India’s defence establishment has put forward a major long-term roadmap that underscores its ambition to field a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as the centrepiece of maritime expansion in the coming decade and a half. The proposed vessel, which would succeed the indigenously designed and built INS Vikrant, marks the next leap in India’s carrier program by moving from conventional propulsion to nuclear power.

This design shift is aimed at enabling a vastly longer operational endurance, greater power projection, and enhanced stealth characteristics. Such a platform would allow uninterrupted blue-water operations across extended ranges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and beyond, greatly deterring adversaries during periods of prolonged tension.

According to the roadmap, nuclear propulsion technology would not only be used for this carrier but also extended to a planned fleet of up to ten major nuclear-powered ships, signalling a significant strategic threshold in India’s naval modernisation drive.

Alongside, the modernisation plan firmly integrates the principle of self-reliance by committing to fielding Indian-made fighter aircraft as the primary carrier-borne assets. The Indian Navy is therefore expected to induct new-generation platforms currently under development by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which include the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF), the TEJAS MK-2, and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

These aircraft would be tailored for naval conditions and would progressively replace ageing Russian MiG-29Ks, which currently form the backbone of carrier strike groups.

For immediate needs, the April 2025 deal with France to acquire 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets for approximately ₹63,000 Crores (about USD 8 billion) ensures that the INS Vikrant can field a potent complement of naval multi-role fighters without delay.

These aircraft will operate alongside the Indian Air Force’s existing fleet of 36 land-based Rafales, thereby harmonising logistics and training synergies. The other operational carrier, INS Vikramaditya, will continue deploying MiG-29Ks in the interim.

A further leap in capability is reflected in the government’s plan to acquire two Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS) of the type developed for the U.S. Navy’s Ford-class carriers. Such technology, distinct from traditional steam catapults, enables the efficient launch of both heavy and lightweight platforms, including next-generation fighter jets, drones, and large surveillance aircraft.

The EMALS installation, paired with nuclear propulsion, would transform India’s carrier operations by allowing more flexible air wing compositions and quicker sortie generation rates.

Its integration would also complement the Navy’s increasing investment in unmanned aerial vehicles and carrier-capable drones, an area identified as crucial after their decisive role during Operation Sindoor—the four-day limited conflict with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

Unmanned systems demonstrated their utility in persistent surveillance, strike missions, and in suppressing enemy defences, ensuring that drones now stand firmly embedded in India’s naval and joint-force planning.

The broader defence modernisation strategy is framed against both military urgency and the geopolitical necessity of reducing external dependencies in an era of unstable global supply chains. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has recently reiterated the importance of strategic independence, and this is reflected in the strong emphasis on “greater private-public sector partnership” to build indigenous capacity across naval shipbuilding, aircraft production, and propulsion technology.

A milestone in this direction is India’s industrial partnership with France’s Safran for joint manufacture of advanced jet engines, which will directly underpin both land-based and carrier-borne fighter aircraft programmes.

In parallel, the operational lessons from Operation Sindoor have reinforced the credibility of indigenous systems, particularly in electronic warfare, missile strikes, and drone operations, which performed effectively under combat conditions. This has given policymakers confidence to centre the next wave of acquisition strategies on domestically developed platforms.

The immediate Indian carrier fleet today comprises the refurbished Russian-origin INS Vikramaditya and the indigenously constructed INS Vikrant, commissioned in 2022 and now nearing full operational readiness.

While these vessels represent critical first steps in achieving carrier independence from foreign suppliers, the contemplated nuclear-powered successor represents a substantial escalation in India’s ability to sustain global maritime presence.

When realised, it would place India in very exclusive company, since only the United States, France, Russia, and China currently operate or are developing nuclear aircraft carriers. The Technology Perspective Capability Roadmap (TPCR 2025) projection of deploying ten nuclear propulsion units across carriers and future surface combatants also reveals a deliberate effort to extend such capability to a broader range of warship classes, thereby decentralising India’s blue-water strike capacity.

The Defence Ministry’s 15-year roadmap signals a comprehensive restructuring of India’s maritime force posture, founded on nuclear propulsion, indigenously developed fighters and drones, advanced launch systems, and public–private manufacturing synergies.

With immediate reinforcement through the induction of Rafale-Marine aircraft and a long-term focus on TEDBF and AMCA, the Indian Navy is seeking to transform its twin-carrier force into a nuclear-powered, drone-capable, CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) carrier fleet.

Such a shift not only aligns with India’s aspiration for greater strategic reach across the Indian Ocean but also elevates its position within the global naval balance of power in the decades to come.

Summary

Projected timeline-style roadmap for India’s next indigenous nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and associated systems, extending to 2040:

India’s Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Roadmap (2025–2040)

Year/PeriodMilestone/EventDetails
2025Defence Modernisation Roadmap announced15-year plan includes nuclear-powered carrier, EMALS acquisition, indigenous fighters, and emphasis on drones.
2026–2027Preliminary design & feasibility studiesNaval Design Bureau and Cochin Shipyard Ltd begin conceptual design for nuclear carrier; nuclear propulsion studies underway with BARC.
2027–2028Prototype reactor developmentIndigenous naval reactor (larger than Arihant-class submarine design) tested onshore for carrier-scale propulsion needs.
2028–2029EMALS acquisition stageNegotiations and technology transfer deals with the US for Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System finalized.
2029–2030Construction beginsKeel-laying of India’s first nuclear aircraft carrier (IAC-II or INS Vishal). Shipyard expansion at CSL prepared for large hull construction.
2030–2032Advanced air wing developmentHAL progresses with Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) prototype trials; AMCA naval variant under development; integration planning for drones.
2032–2033Reactor installation & systems integrationIndigenous nuclear propulsion system installed in carrier hull; EMALS integrated with flight deck systems.
2033–2035Sea trials – Phase IInitial reactor power-ups, propulsion checks, and basic sea trial stages of nuclear carrier begin.
2035–2036Sea trials – Phase II & air wing testsCarrier-based TEDBF and Rafale-M begin deck operations; EMALS operationally tested; unmanned aerial drones integrated.
2037Commissioning of nuclear-powered carrier (likely INS Vishal)India formally inducts its first nuclear aircraft carrier into service.
2037–2038Full operational capability of TEDBFNavalised TEDBF enters frontline service to replace MiG-29Ks on Vikrant and Vikramaditya.
2038–2040Expansion phaseAdditional carrier-launched drones and AMCA naval variant introduced; planning for second nuclear carrier begins.

IDN (With Agency Inputs)