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India Deploys Its Most Modern Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant Facing Pakistan in a Standoff Between Nuclear Powers.
The terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, has marked a significant rupture in India-Pakistan relations. Claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), which India identifies as an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the deadly incident prompted an immediate response from New Delhi, both diplomatically and militarily. Central to this response is deploying the Indian Navy’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, into the Arabian Sea toward Pakistani waters, as reported by @detresfa_ on X. This move reflects a broader strategic posture aimed at power projection and regional rebalancing.
The carrier’s defensive suite includes four dual-purpose Otobreda 76 mm guns, AK-630 close-in weapon systems (CIWS), and two vertical launch systems (VLS) housing a total of 64 cells for Barak 1 and Barak 8 surface-to-air missiles (Picture source: Indian Navy)
INS Vikrant is stationed at INS Kadamba naval base in Karwar, Karnataka. It officially joined the Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command in August 2024, alongside the Russian-built aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, creating a dual-carrier naval force. Vikrant recently played a central role in a joint-domain exercise in the Arabian Sea, operating alongside Kolkata-class destroyers, Talwar-class frigates, and Kalvari-class submarines. On November 7, 2024, Indian President Droupadi Murmu embarked on Vikrant off the coast of Goa to observe missile launches, submarine operations, and MiG-29K fighter sorties, confirming the carrier’s full operational readiness.
Satellite imagery dated April 23, 2025, confirms that INS Vikrant is currently patrolling off the Karwar coast, as part of a strategic shift toward the international border facing Pakistan’s Punjab province. This repositioning aligns with a targeted pressure doctrine aimed at Pakistan’s military command infrastructure, largely concentrated in that region. Positioned just 600 to 700 kilometers from Pakistan’s coastline, Vikrant enhances India’s capacity to control key maritime access routes.
Built with over 76% indigenous components, INS Vikrant represents a key milestone in India’s maritime capabilities under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) initiative. Its development began in 2009 at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and culminated in its commissioning in September 2022, following several years of delays. Measuring 262 meters in length and 62 meters in maximum width, with a displacement of 40,000 tonnes, Vikrant ranks among the most powerful warships ever constructed by the Indian defense industry.
The carrier is powered by a twin-shaft propulsion system that enables a top speed of 28 knots and an operational range of approximately 8,600 nautical miles. Its 8.4-meter draught allows for a balance of stability, maneuverability, and port accessibility, supporting long-duration deployments across the Indian Ocean region.
Vikrant can host up to 40 aircraft, including MiG-29K carrier-based fighters, MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters, multi-role rotary platforms, and Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH). Its flight deck employs a STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) configuration, using a ski-jump for aircraft launch and arrestor wires for recovery. While this setup offers less flexibility than CATOBAR systems, it remains suited to regional maritime power projection requirements.
The carrier’s defensive suite includes four dual-purpose Otobreda 76 mm guns, AK-630 close-in weapon systems (CIWS), and two vertical launch systems (VLS) housing a total of 64 cells for Barak 1 and Barak 8 surface-to-air missiles. This layered defense structure protects against aerial and missile threats in contested environments.
Satellite imagery dated April 23, 2025, shows the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier INS Vikrant operating in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Karwar (Picture source: X channel @detresfa_ )
For situational awareness and surveillance, Vikrant is equipped with the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar and the Selex RAN-40L long-range early warning radar. These systems enable the ship to detect and track multiple airborne and surface threats simultaneously, contributing to the overall effectiveness of the carrier battle group.
The vessel is operated by a crew of approximately 1,645 personnel, encompassing aviation specialists, deck and engineering crews, and support teams. Modernized in 2024, Vikrant’s combat systems, sensors, and interoperability within the carrier group have been significantly upgraded, enhancing its mission resilience in high-intensity operational environments.
In contrast, the Pakistani Navy faces notable capability gaps. According to satellite imagery from March 2025, only two out of five operational submarines appear to be active, while the remaining three are undergoing maintenance or docked. Additionally, Pakistan’s reliance on four Saab 2000 Erieye AWACS aircraft—vulnerable to Indian S-400 systems—underscores the imbalance in regional surveillance and targeting capabilities. Against this backdrop, Vikrant’s deployment further highlights strategic asymmetries in the maritime domain.
The carrier group’s current positioning could enable India to enforce a naval blockade on Pakistan’s strategic ports of Karachi and Gwadar, potentially disrupting up to 60% of the country's maritime trade. Defense analysts have speculated about possible precision strikes on critical port infrastructure, including cranes and fuel storage facilities. Vikrant’s MiG-29K aircraft, with a combat radius of 850 kilometers, are capable of targeting major airbases such as Masroor and Sargodha. In coordination with planned air operations by the Indian Air Force, such actions could significantly undermine Pakistan’s military command-and-control structure.
Open-source intelligence has reported that Vikrant appears to be operating without visible escort, suggesting the likely presence of Kalvari-class submarines or surface escorts maintaining tactical distance within a 10 to 100 km radius. While Vikrant’s onboard defensive systems provide autonomous protection, the absence of accompanying vessels in satellite imagery has raised questions about its exposure to potential threats, such as Pakistan’s Agosta-90B submarines equipped with Babur-3 cruise missiles.
Pakistan’s naval modernization efforts remain incomplete. Its fleet depends on Chinese Type 054A/P frigates and Turkish-built MILGEM corvettes, many of which are still in delivery stages. Submarine capability enhancement is centered around the Chinese-designed Hangor-class boats, the first of which is not expected before 2028, leaving a temporary vulnerability in undersea warfare.
In this heightened environment, the deployment of INS Vikrant stands as a strategic lever for India, signaling the country's capability to assert maritime dominance and apply targeted pressure on Pakistan’s critical defense infrastructure. Far from being a routine naval exercise, the deployment reflects a calibrated show of force amid a diplomatic breakdown. With bilateral agreements suspended and communication channels severely reduced, any miscalculation risks triggering open conflict. In a region where both states possess nuclear capabilities, the current standoff underlines the fragility of the strategic balance and the growing potential for escalation.