Night landing trial done on INS Vikrant, will be operational by June

New Delhi, Apr 4, (Fast Mail News):-- The country's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant has successfully tested 'Night Landing' by landing a Kamov 31 helicopter at night for the first time. This is significant from a safety point of view, as indigenous lighting accessories and shipborne systems were used during the trials, which proved to be a complete success. Earlier on February 06, the day landing and take off of 'LCA Navy' has been tested. INS Vikrant will be fully operational by June after completion of fighter jet trials.

INS Vikrant was commissioned into the Navy in September last year, but was not fully operational due to non-testing of landing and take-off of fighter jets from the deck of the aircraft carrier. Hence fighter jet land and take off tests were started on the ship. In this sequence, the pilots of the Indian Navy on 06 February successfully tested the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft 'LCA Navy' to land and take off on INS Vikrant. India put together a unique display of its capability by operating indigenous fighter aircraft on an indigenously built aircraft carrier.

After testing the landing and take-off of fighter planes during the day on the aircraft carrier, now the night landing has been successfully tested. A team of pilots and Air Tech Officers from the Naval Flight Test Squadron from INS Hansa achieved another feat with the maiden night landing of Kamov 31 helicopter of INAS 339 (Falcons). The test was done on March 28, which has now been officially disclosed. The lighting aids and shipborne systems from the indigenous aircraft carrier were successfully tested. Along with this, night operations have also started from INS Vikrant.

12 MiG-29Ks are likely to be deployed on INS Vikrant for the time being, but India will develop its own indigenous twin-engined deck-based fighter (TEDBF) for the ship. The Navy is working on the project with the Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) and the Aeronautical Development Agency. The first prototype of TEDBF is expected to be ready around 2026 and production could start by 2032. Since TEDBF is still a decade away, the Navy is looking at buying 26 fighter jets as an option.