Operationalising the Gorshkov: An Appraisal

R. Sukumaran

Wg Cdr R. Sukumaran was a Research Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. He is an Air Force fighter pilot and has operated on both INS Vikrant… Continue reading Operationalising the Gorshkov: An Appraisal read more

The paper takes a critical look at various issues connected with India’s acquisition of the Russian aircraft carrier, the Admiral Gorshkov. It examines India’s choice of fighter and various problems it is likely to face in making the carrier operational and fully effective for its task. It recommends the early acquisition of aerial refuelling and early warning systems by the Navy. The paper also argues for greater jointmanship among the services and an increase in specialist cross-postings in order to improve inter-service rapport and the pool of trained manpower.