Publication

Is the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier, the INS Vikramaditya, a useful instrument of hard power or a waste of money? This brief argues that all aircraft carriers provide two important services -- power projection and naval presence. However, since power projection can be both ‘hard’ AND ‘soft’, the Indian Navy should consider employing the INS Vikramaditya in the latter way -- i.e., as a diplomatic tool that performs regional outreach, disaster relief, and humanitarian missions.