Scratch 2 Flattops!

Harriers and Hornets over Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat (Top) and USS Kitty Hawk during the recent Malbar exercise. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jarod Hodge.

Some interesting events from the five-nation Malabar naval exercise, Via the Indian Express:

IAF Jaguars ‘sink’ USS Nimitz, F-18s return the favour to INS
Viraat

As the small green dots approached closer on the radar screen,
the Indian officer sitting deep inside USS Nimitz knew it was too late to save
the ship. Jaguar maritime fighters of the Indian Air Force (IAF), operating from
the Car Nicobar air base, had managed to come dangerously within striking range
to successfully launch anti-ship missiles on the super carrier.
The IAF
registered its first “kill” of the day — none less than the mighty nuclear
powered Nimitz with its compliment of 85 fighters. But the young officer, on a
cross attachment to the US ship, barely had time to feel proud. The battle had
begun in earnest and the target now was India’s lone aircraft carrier.
INS
Viraat, however, proved easy meat for the joint striking force of US F-18 Super
Hornets and IAF Jaguars with the American fighters deliberately flying over the
ship to drive home their air-superiority skills.

No matter how good the defenses, some attacker will always get through. Something to consider when buying these 6000 crewman supercarriers.

Update-This is interesting. According to this report, 13,000 anti-ship missiles will be built world-wide in the next 10 years. During the same time period, only about half a dozen carriers are on order.