Why it Takes Three to Make One

India is demonstrating an important part of planning your fleet - make sure your policy makers understand training and maintenance cycles.

India will be without an operational aircraft carrier at least until December as it awaits the delayed delivery of the Russian-made carrier Admiral Gorshkov, and the Navy’s sole carrier, INS Viraat, is still undergoing refit.

Viraat is doing trials after a refit at the state-owned Cochin Shipyard, after which the carrier will be docked at the naval dockyard for repairs to propulsion, boilers and air conditioning systems. Indian Navy sources say the Viraat refit could take another year.

The refit aims to put Viraat into operation for another three to four years by which time the Gorshkov, renamed by India as the Vikramaditya, and the state-owned Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, would be in operation.

Be careful relying on the Russians as well ... but they have yet to get over their Cold War habits.

Speaking of cold wars;

Meanwhile, China has also decided to add three aircraft carriers by 2016. While one of the carriers, Varyag, was announced by China last year, Beijing is also refitting two aircraft carriers bought from Russia six years back.

"Hotel and Restaurant" my Aunt Fannie.

Nice summary in the Times of India as well.

Speaking of carriers - watch this space this afternoon or early evening for another carrier post you will find of interest methinks.