Naval Platforms: Submarines, Aircraft Carriers, Destroyers, Frigates
Science & Technology › Defence Technology and Missile Systems · Topic 16.11
Naval platforms are the ships and submarines that make up a navy. A submarine operates under water and is either conventional, diesel-electric, or nuclear powered; nuclear submarines are SSN when they are attack boats and SSBN when they carry nuclear ballistic missiles. An aircraft carrier is a large warship with a flight deck that carries fighter aircraft and helicopters, and acts as a mobile airbase. A destroyer is a fast, heavily armed warship of about 6,000 to 10,000 tonnes for air defence, anti-submarine and anti-surface roles, and a frigate is a somewhat smaller escort of 3,000 to 6,000 tonnes. Corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, landing ships and fleet tankers complete a navy. The Indian Navy operates INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · Defence Technology and Missile Systems
At a Glance
- Carrier Mobile airbase
- Destroyer Larger escort, air defence
- Frigate Smaller escort, anti-submarine
- SSBN Nuclear missile submarine
- Indian carriers Vikrant, Vikramaditya
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: Defence Technology and Missile Systems
Where Does It Fit?
This topic follows the account of directed energy weapons. It starts the naval part of the macro and classifies the main types of ships and submarines, which the later topics on Indian ships and submarines use. Previous topic: Directed Energy Weapons. Next topic: Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).
What Are the Main Types of Warships and Submarines?
| Platform | Role and features |
|---|---|
| Aircraft carrier | Carries 30 to 90 aircraft. Takes off by catapult (CATOBAR), ski-jump (STOBAR) or vertically. Needs escorts and forms a carrier battle group. Power projection and sea control |
| Destroyer | Multi-role escort of 6,000 to 10,000 tonnes with area air defence missiles, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes and helicopters |
| Frigate | Smaller escort of 3,000 to 6,000 tonnes focused on anti-submarine warfare and escort of ships |
| Corvette | Small warship of 1,000 to 3,000 tonnes for coastal patrol and anti-submarine work |
| Conventional submarine (SSK) | Diesel-electric, quiet on batteries but must come up to recharge, unless fitted with air independent propulsion |
| Nuclear attack submarine (SSN) | Reactor powered, fast and long endurance, hunts ships and submarines |
| Ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) | Carries nuclear missiles and gives sea based second strike |
What Other Vessels and What Indian Platforms Exist?
- Amphibious ships: landing platform docks carry troops and landing craft
- Offshore patrol vessels: used for protection of the exclusive economic zone
- Fleet support ships: tankers and logistics ships that refuel warships at sea
- Minesweepers and survey vessels: clear mines and map the sea bed
- INS Vikramaditya: a modified Soviet-era carrier, Admiral Gorshkov, of about 45,000 tonnes, commissioned in November 2013
- INS Vikrant: India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-1), built by Cochin Shipyard, of about 40,000 tonnes, commissioned on 2 September 2022
- Submarines: Kalvari class conventional submarines and INS Arihant class SSBNs
- Destroyers and frigates: Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Shivalik and Nilgiri classes
What Else Should You Remember?
- Displacement: the weight of water a ship pushes aside, used as the measure of its size
- CATOBAR: catapult assisted take-off but arrested recovery, as on United States carriers
- STOBAR: short take-off but arrested recovery, as on Vikrant and Vikramaditya
- Nuclear carriers: United States and France operate nuclear powered carriers
- Blue water navy: a navy able to operate far from home for long periods
- Carrier battle group: a carrier with escorts and supply ships
- Anti-submarine warfare: finding and destroying submarines using sonar, helicopters and torpedoes
- Sonar: sound navigation and ranging, the main sensor under water
- Vertical launch system: cells that hold missiles inside the hull
- Combat management system: computers that link sensors and weapons
- Shipbuilders: Mazagon Dock, Garden Reach, Goa Shipyard, Cochin Shipyard and others
- Warship design bureau: the Directorate of Naval Design designs Indian warships
- Indian Ocean Region: India’s main area of operation, with the Navy’s role in anti-piracy and humanitarian help
- Third carrier debate: the Navy has sought a third carrier, while some experts favour submarines; the status should be checked
- Chinese presence: rising Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean is a concern
- Indigenisation: the Navy says most ships under construction are built in India
- Link: the Indian classes are in Frigates, Destroyers and Aircraft Carriers of the Indian Navy
- Link to submarines: see Indian Submarines and Naval Ships: Project 75, INS Kalvari, INS Kolkata, INS Kiltan
- Naval aviation: carrier air wings include MiG-29K fighters, Kamov and MH-60R helicopters, and Rafale-M fighters ordered in 2025
- Submarine hull types: single and double hulls, with the double hull giving more buoyancy and space
- Naval commands: the Western, Eastern and Southern commands, with Andaman and Nicobar as the tri-service command
- Ship naming: Indian Navy ships carry the prefix INS, short for Indian Naval Ship
- Naval Day: 4 December, marking the attack on Karachi in 1971
- Fleet strength: the Navy has said it aims for about 175 to 200 ships by 2035, which should be checked
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Types: carrier, destroyer, frigate, corvette
- Submarines: SSK, SSN, SSBN
- Indian carriers: Vikramaditya 2013, Vikrant 2022
- Current affairs link: third carrier and new commissioning
- Common errors: saying Vikrant is nuclear powered or built abroad
As an analytical point, India needs a navy with surface ships and submarines in balance, backed by domestic shipyards. Carriers give reach and air cover, while submarines give hidden strength.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Types Ships and subs
- Roles Escort, projection
- India Two carriers
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the airborne warning and control system. Next topic: Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).
Key People and Terms
- SSBN Nuclear ballistic missile submarine
- SSK Conventional submarine
- STOBAR Ski-jump carrier launch mode
- Displacement Ship weight measure
- VLS Vertical launch system
- ASW Anti-submarine warfare
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Vikrant commissioned 2 September 2022.
- Vikramaditya commissioned 2013.
- Destroyer is larger than a frigate.
- SSBN carries nuclear missiles.
- Vikrant is conventionally powered.
Do Not Confuse With
- Destroyer and frigate Larger air defence versus smaller anti-submarine escort
- SSN and SSBN Attack versus ballistic missile
- STOBAR and CATOBAR Ski-jump versus catapult
Memory Hook
Carrier carries the jets, destroyer guards the skies, frigate hunts the subs, SSBN hides the missiles.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for ship types and Indian platforms. These points help.
- Types Roles
- India Fleet
- Needs Balance
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the role of different naval platforms in India’s maritime security strategy.”
How to Answer
- Platforms Types.
- Roles Use.
- India Fleet.
- Gaps Numbers.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a destroyer and a frigate?
A destroyer is a larger, faster and more heavily armed warship, with strong area air defence and strike weapons, usually of 6,000 to 10,000 tonnes. A frigate is smaller, usually 3,000 to 6,000 tonnes, and is mainly used for escorting ships and anti-submarine warfare, though modern frigates carry many weapons.
What is an aircraft carrier?
An aircraft carrier is a large warship with a long flight deck on which aircraft take off and land. It works as a mobile airbase, allowing a navy to project air power far from land. It always sails with escort ships and submarines for protection in a carrier battle group.
What are India's aircraft carriers?
India has two aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya, a modified Russian ship commissioned in 2013, and INS Vikrant, the first indigenous aircraft carrier built at Cochin Shipyard and commissioned on 2 September 2022. Both use a ski-jump for take-off and arrested landing for recovery.
What does SSBN mean?
SSBN is the short form for a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. It carries nuclear armed ballistic missiles and stays hidden under water for months, which gives a country a sure second strike capability. India's INS Arihant class submarines are of this type.
What is the role of a corvette?
A corvette is the smallest class of warship, usually 1,000 to 3,000 tonnes, used for coastal patrol, protecting sea lanes and anti-submarine warfare near the shore. India's Kamorta class corvettes, such as INS Kiltan, are built for anti-submarine tasks.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 INS Vikrant is India's first indigenous aircraft carrier.
Commissioned in 2022.
2 A frigate is generally larger than a destroyer.
Destroyers are larger.
3 INS Vikramaditya was originally a Soviet-era ship.
Admiral Gorshkov.
4 SSBN means nuclear ballistic missile submarine.
For second strike.
Past Mains Questions on This Topic
This topic comes under Defence Technology and Missile Systems. UPSC Mains questions asked on the matching syllabus topic, year-wise with marks:
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