"The successful landing and
takeoff of the indigenous LCA Navy on India's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier
on 6 February 2023 is a momentous step forward towards the realisation of our
collective vision of AatmaNirbhar Bharat. 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”, stated Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval
Staff
The Carrier has been
undertaking extensive Air Operations with Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing aircraft
since 13 December 2022 towards Air Certification and Flight Integration Trials
for achieving the ultimate aim of being 'Combat Ready'. As part of the aviation trials, landing of LCA (Navy) and MiG-29K onboard INS Vikrant was
carried out on 6 February 2023
by Indian Naval Test Pilots.
“The landing of LCA (Navy)
on deck has demonstrated India's capability to design, develop, construct and operate indigenous Aircraft Carrier
with indigenous fighter aircraft. It is indeed a landmark achievement being the
first time that trials of a prototype aircraft - indigenously designed and
produced by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL), has been successfully undertaken on an indigenous Aircraft
Carrier. Further, the landing of MiG-29K onboard INS Vikrant is also a
significant achievement as it marks the successful integration of the aircraft with the indigenous carrier as well as
further enhances the Combat Readiness
of the Navy”, stated officials.
