India's Carrier Dilemma Deepens as China's Fujian Nears Readiness

An aircraft carrier is like a big floating airport that carries fighter planes over the sea.

India has two aircraft carriers, called INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.

India wants to build a third one, called IAC-2, but the government has not said yes yet.

A long time ago, in 1965, India's first carrier stayed in the port for repairs during a war.

That experience taught the Navy that a carrier stuck in port cannot protect anyone.

In 1971, that same ship went to sea, and its planes attacked targets along the coast of East Pakistan.

Meanwhile, China has a new carrier called Fujian that will be ready for far-away missions in 2026.

China is also building a special pier in Djibouti where a carrier can stop.

India worries that with only two carriers it cannot always have one ready on both sides of the country.

If the third carrier is approved, the shipyard says it could be built in seven to nine years, but it would still not be ready until the 2030s.