Mumbai - The Indian Navy is contemplating the procurement of another Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) after the induction of INS Vikrant," revealed Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, during the launch event of the advanced stealth frigate Mahendragiri in Mumbai.

He stated, "We are working for a third aircraft carrier, which will be a repeat of INS Vikrant. There is a lot of expertise that has been generated in terms of building an aircraft carrier. We are looking at having an IAC and preparing a case for it." This announcement underscores the Navy's commitment to bolster its maritime capabilities, especially in the Indian Ocean Region and the Indo-Pacific, amid ongoing security challenges.

The launch of the advanced stealth frigate Mahendragiri, the last of the seven Nilgiri-class stealth frigates to be launched at sea, marks a significant milestone in India's naval modernization efforts. Captain Vidhyadhar Harke, Commanding Officer of INS Vikrant, had previously emphasized the importance of more aircraft carriers to safeguard India's maritime interests and enhance safe sea link communication.