India launches new aircraft carrier INS Vikrant as China concerns grow
NEW DELHI — India commissioned its first home-built aircraft carrier Friday as it seeks to counter regional rival China’s much larger and growing fleet, and expand its own indigenous shipbuilding capabilities. The INS Vikrant, whose name is a Sanskrit word for “powerful” or “courageous,” is India’s second operational aircraft carrier, joining the Soviet-era INS Vikramaditya that it purchased from Russia in 2004 to defend the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. The new 262-meter (860-foot) carrier, designed by the Indian Navy and built at the Cochi…
DefenseNews: Cambodia hits back at Chinese base claims
SINGAPORE — Cambodia has denied reports that the country is giving China “exclusive” access to a naval base undergoing construction along the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore over the weekend, Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh reminded the audience that the presence of foreign military bases on his country’s soil is in violation of the constitution. During a Q&A session after his speech, Tea clarified that the naval base at Ream “is being modernized and upgraded in accordanc…
China’s new aircraft carrier: Checkout Satellite Images of Type 003 carrier.
BANGKOK — China ’s most advanced aircraft carrier to date appears to be nearing completion, satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press showed Friday, as experts suggested the vessel could be launched soon. The newly developed Type 003 carrier has been under construction at the Jiangnan Shipyard northeast of Shanghai since 2018. Satellite images taken by Planet Labs PBC on May 31 suggest work on the vessel is close to done. The launch has been long anticipated, and constitutes what the Center for Strategic and International Studies think…
PLA stages S.China Sea drills, shows high combat readiness amid UK carrier tour
China is holding military drills in two navigation restriction areas in the South China Sea region amid news that a UK aircraft carrier task force arrived in Singapore on Monday and is about to enter the South China Sea with the plan of transiting "international waters claimed by China. "Experts said on Tuesday that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will stand ready to deal with any improper acts by the UK warships and see their South China Sea tour as a chance for practice. From Tuesday to Thursday, China will hold mili…
China May Be Building Completely New Kind of Aircraft Carrier, Reports Suggest
Rumors are swirling that the Chinese navy is looking to build a new type of warship. A recently leaked request for proposals (RFP) points to an amphibious assault ship with an electromagnetic aircraft catapult and arresting gear. In a request for proposals posted on July 19 and subsequently leaked on social media, the project is referred to only as “Project XX6,” but observers have been calling the ship the “Type 076.” Judging from some of the details included in the RFP, the Type 076 will be much like the Type 075 landing helicopter d…
AIP Submarines Will Increase The Lethality Of The Indian Navy
Unlike its potential adversaries China and Pakistan, India has yet to adopt Air Independent Power (AIP) for its submarines. Also known as Air Independent Propulsion, this technology allows a non-nuclear submarine to operate for longer without having to surface. This makes it harder to detect and allows it to patrol in high-risk areas for longer. But AIP is coming to Indian submarines. The current Kalvari class boats are expected to receive an Indian-made system. This should greatly increase the potency of India’s non-nuclear submarines. …
Philippines defence minister says China arms on islands worrying
"The actions of China in militarising those disputed features are very troubling," Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement. China ’s recent installation of weapons on artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea was “very troubling”, the Philippines ’ defence minister said on Tuesday, after Manila quietly protested against Beijing’s activities. The Philippine foreign ministry sent a note verbale to the Chinese embassy last month after confirming a report from the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies a…
PLA's hospital ship to visit India next month
A hospital ship of the Chinese navy, Peace Ark, will visit India for the first time in August. It signals the initiation of what could be an increased level of interaction between the Indian and Chinese navies in the wake of Defence Minister A K Antony's maiden visit to China. A hospital ship of the Chinese navy, Peace Ark, will visit India for the first time in August. It signals the initiation of what could be an increased level of interaction between the Indian and Chinese navies in the wake of Defence Minister A K Antony'…
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