CBG | Indian Navy | Past, Present and Future

CBG | Indian Navy | Past, Present and Future

-Kunal Varshney

India is a country with rich naval history that dates backs to Gupta empire and had always maintained powerful naval presence under empires like Chola empire and Maratha empire. Post independence too Indian military planners have put a great impetus on maintaining a powerful navy and for a country surrounded by Indian ocean, rightly so. India long understood the need of maintaining a powerful navy not just to keep its trade routes secure, but to project power too. The center of this power projection has always been an Aircraft carrier and its battle group commonly known as Carrier Battle Group (CBG). India is the only Asian country with history of operating an Aircraft Carrier for a continuous period of 6 decades, Infact only country other than US and France which has history of operating carrier Non-Stop till date since it 1st acquired aircraft carrier. So let’s understand Indian Navy Various aircraft carrier and Carrier battle Group surrounding that carrier.

1- Vikrant (R11) CBG

The rich maritime journey of making Indian Navy a blue water navy started with acquisition of Ex HMS Hercules, a Majestic class light carrier, in 1957 and commissioning as INS Vikrant in year 1961. It’s the 1st and infact only aircraft carrier which actually tasted Combat with Indian Navy. Vikrant carrier group is remembered for  enforcing naval blockade in Bay of Bengal and wrecking havoc in East Pakistan during Indo-Pak war, 1971 also known as Bangladesh Liberation War.  During the War the CBG comprised of

• INS Vikrant with air group consisting of 5 Breguet Br.1050 Alize armed with torpedos,  depth charges or bombs and 18 Hawker Sea Hawk aircrafts armed with 4, 20mm guns and payload of 60 rockets or 4 500lbs bomb. The Carrier also had 16 40mm Bofors guns installed for anti air role.
• 2 Frigates : Brahmaputra class frigates (Leapord Class), INS Brahmaputra and INS Beas armed with 2 twin 4.5in Mark 6 guns, 1 40mm Bofors gun and 1 Squid Anti submarine mortar.
• 2 ASW Corvettes : Arnala Class corvettes (Petya III Class) INS Kamorta and INS Kavaratti armed with 4 76mm guns, 4 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launchers, 3 533mm torpedo tubes and depth charges.
• 2 Landing ship tank (LST):  Ghariyal class landing ship tank (Polnocny -D class)  INS Ghariyal and INS Guldar, attached with 1/3 Gorkha Rifles along with elements of Bihar Regiment for amphibious role.
• 1 Submarine: INS Khanderi armed with 10 533mm torpedo tubes for  22 SET-65E/SAET-60 torpedos or 44 mines for sub surface role.
• 1 Replenishment oiler: SCI  Deshdeep, a civil tanker for resupply role of the battle group.

During Operation Vijay i.e. Liberation of Goa, escorts included INS Rajput (R class Destroyer) and INS Kripan (Blackwood class frigate). During the later years INS Vikrant got multiple refits which involved ski jump for new air group consisting of Sea Harriers and Westland Sea King and escorts included Godavari class frigates, Rajput class destroyers (Kashin II class). The Crew of the carrier is decorated with 2 Maha Vir Chakra and 12 Vir Chakra for 1971 war.

2- Viraat (R22) CBG

The second aircraft carrier to enter Indian service was again British HMS Hermes, a Centaur class aircraft carrier, rechristened INS Viraat, commisioned in 1987. The carrier group saw deployment during   Indian Peacekeeping force Deployment in Sri Lanka between 1987-1990, Kargil war 1999 and Operation Parakram 2001-02. Although CBG did not saw actual combat but it acted as a deterrence which kept adversaries at bay. The CBGcomprised of :

• INS Viraat with air group of 16 Sea Harriers armed with  2 30mm cannons and payload of 4 Matra  rocket pods with 18 rocket each or combination of R550Magic WVR missile, Sea Eagle ASHM or bombs, 4-6 Westland Sea King  armed with 4 torpedoes or  4 depth charges  and 2-4 HAL chetak. The carrier had 40mm Bofors guns for anti air role. During the later years carrier saw services of  4 HAL Dhruv and installation of 16 Barak-1 SAM and 30mm AK230 CIWS.
• 2 or 3 Destroyers: Mix of Rajput class destroyers armed with  1 76.2mm gun, 4 Styx ASHM or 4 to 8 Brahmos (depending on ship),  1 or 2 twin arm S-125M SAM launchers with 32 miissiles each, 4 30mm AK 230 CIWS, 1 533 PTA quintuple torpedo tubes and 2 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launchers & Delhi class destroyers armed with 1 100mm gun, 16 KH-35 Switchblade ASHM, 2 single arm Shtil-1 SAM launcher with 24 missiles each, 16 Barak-1 SAM, 1 quintuple torpedo tube, 2 30mm AK630 CIWS, 2 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launchers and depth charges.
• 2 or 3 Frigates:  Mix of  Godavari class frigates armed with 1 57mm AK725 twin barrel gun, 4 Styx ASHM, 24 Barak-1 SAM, 4 30mm AK630 CIWS and 2 324mm triple torpedo tubes & Brahmaputra class frigates armed with  1 76mm OTO Melara gun, 16 KH-35 switchblades, 24 Barak-1 SAM,  4 30mm AK630 CIWS and 2 324mm triple torpedo tubes. During early years group also saw service of Nilgiri class frigates armed with 2 115mm Vickers Mark 6 guns, 2 Oerlikon 20mm guns, 2 30mm AK630 CIWS and 2 324mm triple torpedo tubes.
• 1 Corvette:  Khukri class corvette armed with 1 76mm AK-176 naval gun, 4 Styx ASHM, 2 30mm AK630 CIWS and Strela MANPADs.
• 1 Fleet support ship: INS Jyoti or INS Aditya for Resupply.
• 1 Submarine: A Sindhughosh class submarine (Kilo Class) armed with 6 torpedo tubes for 18 torpedos or 24 mines or a Shishumar class sumarine (Type 209 class) armed with 6 torpedo tubes for 14 torpedos or 24 mines for subsurface role.

During much touted Malabar exercise 2007 in which India, US, Japan, Australia and Singapore took part Indian carrier battle group comprised of 8 warships including INS Viraat, INS Mysore (Delhi class), INS Rana (Rajput class), INS Ranjit (Rajput class),INS Brahmaputra (Brahmaputra class), INS Gomati (Godavari class), INS Kuthar (Khukri class), INS Jyoti fleet support ship.

 3- Vikramaditya (R33) CBG

The 3rd carrier to enter services of Indian Navy and currently the flagship of Indian Navy is INS Vikramaditya, a Kiev class aircraft cruiser, Admiral Gorshkov. The ship was purchased from Russia in year 2004 to replace aging INS Viraat and finally entered service in year 2013. The battle group took part in multiple exercises like Malabar and took part in overseas port visits to countries like Sri Lanka and Maldives. The CBG generally consist of :

• INS Vikramaditya with air group of 26 Mig 29k armed with  1 30mm GSH-30-1 cannon and 8 hardpoints for combination of RVV-AE BVR, R-73E CCM, KH-35,KH-31 or guided bombs and soon be equipped with Astra BVR, 4 Ka-31 AEW Helicopters and 4 Ka-28 ASW Helicopters  armed with 1 torpedo and 36 sonobuoys  and 2 HAL chetak or HAL Dhruv. The carrier has  4 30mm AK630 CIWS and 24 Barak-1 for anti air role.
• 2 Destroyers: Mix of  Kolkata class destroyers armed with 1 76mm OTO Melara super rapid gun mount, 16 Brahmos ASHM, 32 Barak-8 MRSAM, 4 30mm AK630 CIWS, 4 533mm torpedo tubes and 2 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launchers & Delhi class destroyers armed with 1 100mm gun, 16 KH-35 Switchblade ASHM, 2 single arm Shtil SAM launcher with 24 missiles each, 16 Barak-1 VLS, 1 quintuple torpedo tube, 2 30mm AK630 CIWS, 2 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launchers and depth charges.
•  2 or 3 Frigates: Mix of Shivalik class frigates armed with 1 76mm OTO Melara super rapid gun mount, 8 Brahmos ASHM, 1 single arm Shtil-1 SAM launcher with 24 missiles,32 Barak-1 SAM, 2 30mm AK630 CIWS, 2 twin 533mm torpedo tubes and 2 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launchers & Talwar class frigates (Krivark III class) armed with 1 100mm A190E naval gun, 8 Brahmos/Klub ASHM, 1 single arm Shtil-1 SAM launcher with 24 missiles,8 Igla-1E MANPAD, 2 30mm AK630/Kashtan CIWS, 2 twin 533mm torpedo tubes and 1 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launcher.
• 1 or 2 Missile corvette: Kora class corvette armed with 1 76mm AK-176/OTO Melara  naval gun, 16 KH-35 ASHM, 2 30mm AK630 CIWS and Strela MANPADs & Khukri class corvette armed with 1 76mm AK-176 naval gun, 4 Styx ASHM, 2 30 mm AK630CIWS and Strela MANPADs.
• 1 ASW Corvette: Kamorta class corvette armed with 1 76mm OTO Melara super rapid gun mount, 2 30mm AK630 CIWS, 2 twin 533mm torpedo tubes and 2 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launchers. The ship has space for 16 SRSAM, to be installed in future.
• 1 Replenishment tanker : INS Jyoti  or Deepak class fleet tankers for resupply.
• 1 Nuclear attack submarine: INS Chakra II ( Akula II class) armed with 8 533mm torpedo tubes for 40 torpedoes or Club-S ASHM, it may also carry Igla-M for anti air role when surfaced.

During Malabar 2017, Vikramaditya carrier battle group consisted of 9 warships including INS Vikramaditya, INS Ranvir (Rajput class), INS Shivalik (Shivalik class), INS Sahyadri (Shivalik class), INS Kamorta (Kamorta class), INS Kora (Kora class), INS Kirpan (Khukri class), a Sindhughosh class submarine and INS Jyoti fleet support ship.

3- Vikrant (R44) CBG

The 1st indigenously constructed aircraft carrier to be inducted by end of 2021 or early 2022. Since the aircraft carrier is still not in service , we can predict how its carrier battle group will look like based on current acquisition plans of Indian Navy. The CBG will likely consist of

• INS Vikrant with air group of 26 Naval multirole fighter most likely either F/A-18 Super Hornet or Rafale-M or TEDBF, 4 MH60-Romeo multi role helicopters armed with 2 Mk46 Torpedoes, 4 Ka-31 AEW helicopters and 2 HAL Dhruv. The Carrier will also be armed with 4 30mm AK630 CIWS and 48 Barak 8 MRSAM.
• 2 or 3 Destroyers: Mix of Vishakhapatnam class destroyers armed with 1 127mm BAE Mk 45 naval gun, 16 Brahmos ASHM, 32 Barak-8 MRSAM, 4 30mm AK630 CIWS, 4 533mm torpedo tubes and 2 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launchers & Kolkata class destroyers armed with 1 76mm OTO Melara super rapid gun mount, 16 Brahmos ASHM, 32 Barak-8 MRSAM, 4 30mm AK630 CIWS, 4 533mm torpedo tubes and 2 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launchers.
• 2 or 3 Frigates: Mix of Nilgiri Class frigates armed with 1 127mm BAE Mk 45 naval gun, 8 Brahmos ASHM, 32 Barak-8 MRSAM, 2 30mm AK630 CIWS, 4 533mm torpedo tubes and 2 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launchers & Talwar class frigates (Admiral Grigorovich class) armed with 1*100mm A190E naval gun, 8 Brahmos ASHM, 24 Shtil-1 SAM ,8 Igla-M MANPADs, 2 30 mm AK630 CIWS, 2 twin 533mm torpedo tubes and 1 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launcher.
• 1 or 2 Missile Corvette: Mix of Kora class corvette armed with 1 76mm AK-176/OTO Melara  naval gun, 16 KH-35 ASHM, 2 30mm AK630 CIWS and Strela MANPADs & Next Generation Missile Vessel being procured and will be armed with 1 76mm main gun, 8 Brahmos ASHM, 16 SRSAM, 2 30mm AK630 CIWS.
• 1 ASW Corvette: Kamorta class corvette armed with 1 76mm OTO Melara super rapid gun mount, 2 30mm AK630 CIWS, 2 twin 533mm torpedo tubes and 2 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launchers. The ship has space for 16 SRSAM, to be installed in future.
• 1 Replenishment tanker: INS Jyoti  or Deepak class fleet tankers for resupply.
• 1 Nuclear attack submarine: INS Chakra III ( improved Akula I class) armed with 8 533mm torpedo tubes for 40 torpedoes or Club-S ASHM, it may also carry Igla-M for anti air role when surfaced.

3- Vishal Carrier Battle Group

Though cloud looms over its fate, we at Alpha Defense are of firm belief that the carrier will come, if not by 2035 than by 2040. It will be 2nd indigenously constructed aircraft carrier and 1st CATOBAR carrier . Since the aircraft carrier is still in planning stage , we can only speculate/assume on how its carrier battle group will look like. The CBG will probably consist of:

• INS Vishal  with air group of 36-40 Fighter aircraft i.e. mix of TEDBF & N-AMCA, 2 E-2C Hawkeye AWACS, 6-8 MH-60 Romeo multirole helicopter and 4-8 HAL Dhruv or HAL NUH. The carrier may have Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) based CIWS and combination of XR-SAM and Barak-8ER.
• 1 LHD with air group of 16-24 Helicopters, likely mix of MH-60 Romeo, HAL IMRH, HAL Dhruv and HAL NUH and an Indian Army amphibious assault Battalion attached to it.
• 2 or 3 Next Generation Destroyers (NGD) armed with Brahmos 2 ASHM, LR-LACM, combination of XR-SAM & Barak-8ER, Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) based CIWS, Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART).
• 2 or 3 Nilgiri class frigates armed with 1 127mm BAE Mk 45 naval gun, 8 Brahmos ASHM, 32 Barak-8 MRSAM, 2 30mm AK630 CIWS, 4 533mm torpedo tubes and 2 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launchers
• 1 or 2 Next Generation Missile Vessel armed with 1 76mm main gun, 8 Brahmos ASHM, 16 SRSAM, 2 30mm AK630 CIWS.
• 1  Kamorta class corvette armed with 1 76mm OTO Melara super rapid gun mount, 16 SR-SAM 2 30 mm AK630 CIWS, 2 twin 533mm torpedo tubes and 2 RBU 6000 ASW rocket launchers.
• 1 Fleet Support Vessel(FSV)  to be constructed with help of Turkish Shipyards
• 1 Indigenous SSN, a nuclear attack submarine armed with torpedoes and Brahmos-2 SLCM.

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Article Updated on 07/08/2021.