The Indian Navy’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and MIG-29K fighters made their first landing on its new aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, according to the Indian Ministry of Defense.
“The successful landing and take off of the indigenous LCA Navy on India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is a momentous step forward towards the realisation of our collective vision of AatmaNirbharBharat. The maiden landing of the Mig-29K also heralds the integration of the fighter aircraft with INS Vikrant. Congratulations to all those who made it happen.” Adm. R. Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, posted on a MOD press release.
The INS Vikrant is the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier and its most complex warship ever constructed. The ship was designed by the Warship Design Bureau of the Indian Navy and built by M/S Cochin Shipyard Limited. The ship had set sail on its maiden voyage on August 21st, 2004. Since that day, she has participated in sea trials for the main propulsion, power generation, firefighting, and aviation facility complex equipment. On 02 September 22, the carrier was commissioned into the Indian Navy.
Since 13 December 22, the Carrier has conducted comprehensive air operations with both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft in preparation for air certification and flight integration trials. Indian Naval Test Pilots conducted the landing of an LCA (Navy) and a MiG-29K on the INS Vikrant on February 6 as part of the trials.
