UK’s BAE Systems and French Naval Group Compete to Co-Develop India’s…

Sarah J · 2025-12-29T09:11:04.000Z

India’s plans for a next-generation aircraft carrier have intensified strategic interest from major European defence contractors, with the United Kingdom’s BAE Systems and France’s Naval Group actively competing to co-develop the Indian Navy’s proposed 65,000-tonne supercarrier, tentatively named INS Vishal. The contest reflects India’s evolving maritime ambitions as it aims to operationalise a robust carrier fleet capable of sustained blue-water operations. INS Vishal represents a significant technological leap over India’s current carriers, designed to employ a Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) system and Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) to launch heavier fixed-wing jets, future unmanned platforms and airborne early warning aircraft, addressing operational limitations of the existing ski-jump configuration. France’s Naval Group has pitched its proposal by leveraging expertise from its next-generation carrier design and experience with nuclear propulsion aboard the Charles de Gaulle, offering potential joint development to adapt its Porte-Avions Nouvelle Génération (PANG) design for Indian requirements. This bid is supported by Paris’s ongoing defence cooperation with India and complements the Indian Navy’s procurement of Rafale-M fighters. On the other side, the UK’s BAE Systems is proposing co-development collaborations drawing on design insights from the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, emphasising modular construction and technology sharing for EMALS. The British approach also aligns with broader security partnerships, including maritime exercises conducted between the Royal Navy and Indian Navy, highlighting cross-carrier operational synergy. Defence sources indicate that both offers prioritise technology transfer and interoperability, potentially bypassing export barriers associated with sensitive systems, and there is even speculation about a hybrid consortium combining the strengths of both European partners. If realised, such a collaboration would not only bolster India’s indigenous naval capabilities but also deepen defence industrial ties with Europe. #StartupEuropeIndiaNetwork #India #Tech #MarketExpansion #Science #AI #Infrastructure #Defence #MaritimeSecurity #INSVishal #AircraftCarrier #BAESystems #NavalGroup #IndiaEuropePartnership #MakeInIndia

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UK’s BAE Systems and French Naval Group Compete to Co-Develop India’s… | SEINET