On Board INS Mumbai: With the indigenously built Air Defence Ship (ADS) coming out of "drawing board", the Indian Navy could have two aircraft carriers by 2011, Defence Minister George Fernandes indicated.

"The indigenously built ADS is out of drawing board and the first steel is likely to be cut by this year end. The aircraft carrier was likely to be inducted into the Indian Navy by 2011," Fernandes said on board the missile destroyer off Goa Coast yesterday (Mar 8, 2004).

The statement of Fernandes, who earlier witnessed breathtaking naval exercises somewhere in the blue waters of Arabian Sea, assumes significance in the backdrop of India's solitary aircraft carrier INS Virat being phased out in next 7-8 years.

The country has already finalised the Admiral Gorshkov deal and the Russian aircraft carrier was likely to be inducted into the Indian Navy soon.

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Madhvendra Singh, who was also present on the occasion, said the Navy needs three aircraft carriers and the Government was well aware of "our concerns and accepts our position".

However due to financial constraints, "We will have two aircraft carriers." and once the situation improves which he said would be in near future, then the country can have three aircraft carriers.

India's first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was decommissioned in January 31, 1997.

Asked about Scorpene deal to acquire submarines, Fernandes said, "The deal will be high on our agenda, if we come to power again."

To a query about escalating costs in view of the delay in finalising the deal, the Defence Minister said, "Such hazards are part of the Defence deals."

Admiral Singh also disclosed that Indian Navy was scouting the global market for long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

"This is something we need urgently. Though not many are available in the market we are in search of them," he said.

To a query on Government's 30-year-long submarine building programme, Fernandes said, "It is progressing as per the needs of the Indian Navy." Asked about Indian Navy's move to acquire nuclear-powered submarine, Fernandes said he was not aware of it.

Earlier, Fernandes witnessed the India's maritime prowess as missile destroyers, INS Mumbai, INS Mysore, INS Delhi, stealth frigates, INS Talwar, INS Trishul, missile frigates, INS Brahmaputra, INS Ganga, fleet tanker INS Shakti, leanders, INS Dunagiri, INS Vindhyagiri, INS Udaygiri and submarine INS Sindhuraj participated in the exercise.