Category: AIRCRAFT

Aircraft carriers powered by nuclear energy and assisted by logistical escort vessels to sustain the needs of the crew on deck can truly transform the narrative of establishing a blue water navy by functionalising a renewable, long-lasting, and self-sustainable source of energy to keep the carrier moving for over 10-20 years, with a 50-year lifespan in total.

Taking this into account, a sophisticated nuclear-powered air-craft carrier today (say, the American Nimitz-Class aircraft carriers) is in peacetime, without replenishment, and of course, without refuelling.

In wartime, the time period may reduce to up to one to three months, which is still significantly higher than the one-to-two-week deadline for the refuelling and replenishment of an oil-powered aircraft carrier in active service. Not to mention, a nuclear-powered (N-powered) aircraft carrier may still appear on shore only to restock its fridges, but not to undergo the lengthy Refuelling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) processes that aviation-fuel powered aircraft carriers would require. N-powered carriers need RCOH only once in their mid-life stage (at up to 25 years after being commissioned).

A nuclear-powered (N-powered) aircraft carrier may still appear on shore only to restock its fridges, but not to undergo the lengthy Refuelling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) processes that aviation-fuel powered air-craft carriers would require.

That said, the costs of development and tech-fitting for an air-craft carrier are astronomical. Currently, India has operationalised only one conventional aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, a modified Kiev-class carrier, on its western seaboard. INS Vikrant, India’s second air-craft carrier is undergoing sea trials since August 2021 and is set to be commissioned this year.