First Indian MiG-29 Fighter Jet Lands on Vikramaditya

[HRK]

MOSCOW, February 7 (RIA Novosti) – An Indian MiG-29 naval jet landed on a refitted former Soviet aircraft carrier Friday, marking the first such operation since the ship was delivered by Russia to the south Asian nation earlier this year.

“An exciting event took place today – the first landing of an Indian MiG-29 piloted by an Indian pilot on the Vikramaditya,” Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation vice president Igor Ponomarev told reporters at the ongoing DEFEXPO-2014 exhibition in New Delhi.

The Vikramaditya, formerly known as the Admiral Gorshkov, was handed over to the Indian navy on November 16 at the Semvash shipbuilder and arrived at a naval base in Kanwar in the beginning of January.

The process of the ship’s official commissioning will take between three and four months, according to the Indian navy. A team of Russian specialists arrived onboard the ship and will stay in India for a year to fix any possible glitches if needed.

The Indian Navy commissioned its first squadron of MiG-29K/KUB carrier-based fighters in 2013.
The squadron, dubbed the “Black Panthers,” comprises 12 single-seat MiG-29Ks and four two-seat MiG-29KUBs, which Russia supplied under a 2004 contract with the Indian Defense Ministry.

The aircraft have until now been stationed at an airbase in Dabolim, in the state of Goa on India's west coast.

In January 2010, New Delhi and Moscow signed a deal worth $1.2 billion for the delivery of an additional 29 MiG-29Ks to the Indian navy.

The Vikramaditya is expected to carry up to 24 MiG-29K/KUB fighter jets.

India has built with Russia’s assistance a training facility for naval pilots to practice aircraft carrier operations.

The facility, known as NITKA, features a takeoff ramp and arrestor cables to enable naval aviators to practice high-precision and high-acceleration takeoffs and landings.

First Indian MiG-29 Fighter Jet Lands on Vikramaditya | Defense | RIA Novosti

 

[jaiind]

Allah hu akbar.

 

[janon]

Can the Vik really carry 24 mig-29Ks? That is quite a punch it packs.

 

[HRK]

Allah hu akbar.

Allah hu Samad ....

 

[jaiind]

Can the Vik really carry 24 mig-29Ks? That is quite a punch it packs.

It does carry 24 mig 29 .it will forbidden sneakers entrance into its air space.

 

[janon]

It does carry 24 mig 29 .it will forbidden sneakers entrance into its air space.

It can do a lot more than deny hostile aircrafts from entering its airspace. With that figure, it can take the battle into the enemy's airspace, and do offensive missions, not to mention pursuing enemy surface fleet.

 

[Ping]

Been waiting for this for a long time. I guess we'll get a video of it soon.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Whoa!! This is BIG news. Hope we get plenty of pics/vid soon!!

 

[npm]

Yeayyyy..... good news

-npm

 

[kurup]

Great news ....

For the past few days , we are hearing some amazing news from Indian defence circles .

Let it continue this way .

 

[sancho]

It can do a lot more than deny hostile aircrafts from entering its airspace. With that figure, it can take the battle into the enemy's airspace, and do offensive missions, not to mention pursuing enemy surface fleet.

The number of fighters is not the important point for offensive missions, but the capability of the fighter and it's weapons. Here the Mig is very limited, since it does't have cruise missiles, nor any heavy weapons like the MKI. In fact with the currently available weapon pack, Kh31 will be the only weapon that can be lanched at safe distances in land attack missions. Compared to Rafale Ms, F18SH, or even J15s, that will be the most limiting factor. The main use of these carriers and their fighters will remain to be air defence for the CBG and anti ship roles, for that the Mig will be pretty capable.

 

[Abingdonboy]

The number of fighters is not the important point for offensive missions, but the capability of the fighter and it's weapons. Here the Mig is very limited, since it does't have cruise missiles, nor any heavy weapons like the MKI. In fact with the currently available weapon pack, Kh31 will be the only weapon that can be lanched at safe distances in land attack missions. Compared to Rafale Ms, F18SH, or even J15s, that will be the most limiting factor. The main use of these carriers and their fighters will remain to be air defence for the CBG and anti ship roles, for that the Mig will be pretty capable.

@sancho- what LGBs are integrated on the MIG-29K? The IN has LITENING IIIs for them. And don't you think the iN would be interested in adding to the capability of the Ks as time goes by by integrating more weapons?

 

[sancho]

@sancho- what LGBs are integrated on the MIG-29K? The IN has LITENING IIIs for them. And don't you think the iN would be interested in adding to the capability of the Ks as time goes by by integrating more weapons?

So far they use the KAB 500 bombs, just like MKI, but as soon as Sudarshan is available, it will be integrated to all Russian fighters for sure. Brahmos M is a long term goal, but as I often said, I don't see IN going to use the carriers for land attacks anyway. They hardly have a role against Pakistan and would be not capable enough to be used against China too. Only IAC 2 with stealth fighters would change that, but that's a long term prospect only.