The successful landing of Tejas for the first time on INS Vikrant, was a big success for India

New Delhi: An aircraft of the Navy-ready version of the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft Tejas was on Monday landed on the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and took off from there. The Ministry of Defense has described it as a historic step towards the collective dream of a self-reliant India. The MiG 29K has also been flown for the first time on the first aircraft carrier built in India, INS Vikrant. The Navy Chief has congratulated the entire team engaged in this campaign.

INS Vikrant is the first indigenously built large aircraft carrier and is equipped with complex systems. It has been designed by the Warship Design Bureau of the Indian Navy and built at the Cochin Shipyard Limited. It is currently undergoing testing. It was first launched on 04 August 2021 for sea trials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inducted it into the Indian Navy on 02 September 2022.

On this, an intensive test of landing and flying of fixed-wing and rotary (rotating) wing aircraft is being done. This campaign is an undertaking to prepare it completely for war situations. The statement said that 'in order of flight tests, the test pilots of the Indian Navy landed LCA (Navy) and MiG 29K on INS Vikrant on 06 February 2023.

The launch of LCA Navy on INS Vikrant is a demonstration of self-reliance in indigenous aircraft carrier design, development, manufacture and operation of indigenous fighter aircraft, the statement said. The Ministry of Defense has said that on INS Vikrant the landing of MiG 29K is also a major achievement, indicating that the operations of this aircraft have also been coordinated with this indigenous aircraft carrier. This will further increase the capability of the Indian Navy.

(ASHNA)