Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant achieves milestone with historic night landing of MiG-29K and LCA

Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant, the most complex warship ever built in India, has achieved a milestone with the historic night landing of the MiG-29K and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA- Navy) on Wednesday (May 24, 2023).

In order to quickly reach a state of complete combat readiness, the carrier is currently undergoing Air Certification and Flight Integration Trials with Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing aircraft.

Earlier, as part of the trials, maiden day landing of MiG-29K and the indigenous LCA (Navy) was achieved on February 23, 2023. Since then, day and night landing trials of all helicopters in the Indian Navy's inventory have been undertaken.

"This challenging accomplishment, within three months of maiden day landing demonstrates the resolve, skill and professionalism of the Indian Navy, Vikrant crew and Naval Pilots," the Ministry of Defence said on Friday, providing information on the night landings by the Indian Navy aircraft.

Since its first voyage on August 4, 2021, the imposing aircraft carrier has undergone extensive sea trials. It was officially commissioned into the Indian Navy on September 2, 2022, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a resounding example of the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) goal of the Indian government.

Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant was masterfully built by prestigious public sector company Cochin Shipyard Limited after being meticulously developed by the Indian Navy's in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB). The largest ship ever constructed in India's maritime history, the INS Vikrant offers cutting-edge automated technologies and is a real testament to the country's technical skill and naval capabilities.

This indigenous aircraft carrier proudly bears the name of her historic predecessor, India's first aircraft carrier, which was instrumental in the historic victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war. It involves a wide range of domestically produced machinery and equipment sourced from significant industrial players from all across the nation, and more than 100 MSMEs, further enhancing the sense of self-reliance.

With the launch of Vikrant, India hopes to strengthen its naval capabilities and defend the interests of the country by adding two operational aircraft carriers to its maritime security force.