It flew with half tank of fuel and 1.4 ton payload - 2 harpoons and two AAMs, from what I have read.
Not quite. The requirement is very real. The Migs are have operational availability of around 30% and also keep having engine blowouts on training sorties. At this time their carrier is no more than a live training platform. They require western standard jets to turn it into a real war fighting platform.ArmChairCivvy wrote: ↑17 Jul 2022, 09:13Interesting from two points of view: will they have EMALS (then this experiment would remain just that, an interesting experiment.
Second, their Flankers can carry Brahmos for anti-ship use... so how far out is the Indian navy planning to operate with their carriers?
- they did show interest in DG (in case the US decides to 'vacate')
As for the role of the carriers, they have rather modest aims of being able to blockade the energy and weapons flows in Arabian sea if even needed.
For southern Indian Ocean, as you rightly mention, the Flankers can play a role from the air bases dotted along the 4th and 5th island chains and A&N islands.