INS Vikrant

30.04.2024

INS Vikrant

Why in the news?                          

                 Recently, both aircraft carriers of the Indian Navy, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, showcased “twin carrier operations” with MiG-29K fighter jets taking off simultaneously from both and landing cross deck.

About INS Vikrant:

• It is the first ever indigenously designed and constructed aircraft carrier which will strengthen the country’s stand as a ‘Blue Water Navy’.
• It has been designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by M/s Cochin Shipyard Limited.
• India also joined the elite group of nations – the US, Russia, France, the UK and China – who are capable of designing and constructing aircraft carriers.
• Also, with a displacement of 43,000 tonnes when fully loaded, INS Vikrant is set to be the seventh largest among the carriers or carrier classes in the world.

What are its capabilities?

• It can operate an air wing of 30 aircraft comprising MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, in addition to indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters and Light Combat Aircraft (Navy).
• It uses the STOBAR (Short Take-Off but Arrested Recovery) method to launch and recover aircraft for which it is equipped with a ski- jump to launch aircraft and three ‘arrester wires’ for their recovery. 

The Mikoyan MiG-29K:

• It is a Russian all-weather carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft developed by the Mikoyan Design Bureau.
• The MiG-29K was developed in the late 1980s from the MiG-29M.
• Mikoyan describes it as a 4+ generation aircraft.
• Equipment: The MiG-29K/KUB carries modern targeting and navigation system, quad-redundant fly-by-wire flight control system, radar and optical locating stations, helmet-mounted targeting/display system, communications and self-defense equipment, cockpit instrumentation and other aids that working together provide high flight safety, effective use of weapons, as well as handling of navigation and training tasks.
• Armament: The MiG-29K/KUB is equipped with short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, including Kh-31A/P high-speed missiles, guided aerial bombs, unguided rockets and bombs, and an internal gun.

 Benefits:

• Round-the-clock and all-weather capability
• High fighter and attack mission capability
• High flight safety and combat survivability
• high level of maintainability
• Mature operation system in the Russian and foreign air forces.                                     

                                                            Source: The Hindu