"Deliberately grounded on a tiny reef in the #SouthChinaSea, part of an island chain claimed by the two Asian countries, the #BRPSierraMadre is now the unlikely base for a detachment of Filipino marines who stand guard over the atoll, scanning the turquoise waters for Chinese ships." #AyunginShoal#SecondThomasShoal#Philippines
The new carrier is projected to hold at least 28 fighter jets and helicopters and displace 45,000 tons of water, a common measurement of warship size. The #Vikrant also displaces 45,000 tons.
The carrier is to be equipped with French-made #Rafale jets, Bloomberg said, a decision reflecting India's ongoing military modernization and partial phasing out of older Soviet- and Russia-made hardware.