A quiet, hybrid process is underway to buy a reduced number of new fighters for the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers. But remarkably, some of the fighters being considered can’t operate from aircraft carriers.
These Contractor Sea Trials will be conducted over the next few months and the Vikrant is expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2022. The navy says the ship’s performance, including hull, main propulsion, PGD and auxiliary equipment would be closely monitored during this maiden sailing.
Boeing is the third international manufacturer to have announced a partnership with Indian companies for the production of fighter aircraft in India.
According to the Indian Navy, “The pilot aborted take-off during a training sortie. During deceleration, the aircraft veered off the end of runway and caught fire. The pilot jettisoned the canopy and egressed the aircraft safely.”
Angad Singh explains why the Indian Navy faces difficulties as it begins its search for new carrier fighters.
The Indian Navy has issued a Request For Information (RFI) for 57 Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters (MRCBF) with the ability to operate from both STOBAR and CATOBAR aircraft carriers.
“Unfortunately the LCA has not been able to meet the carrier capability required. So that is why we need an alternate aircraft now,” said navy chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba.
The Indian Navy is set to take a decision on the future of the naval LCA and will be considering alternatives for fighters to operate from what will be a CATOBAR Indigenous Aircraft Carrier-2 (IAC-2).
Boeing, Saab and Lockheed Martin are offering to build fighters in India and each is bringing something different to the table.
With the IAF no longer interested in the development of the Mk2, the Indian Navy will undertake a process to determine if they should continue with the development of the model on their own.
The new ACNS (Air Materiel), Rear Admiral Srinivas Kanugo, will have three sub-directorates looking at air logistics, plans/procurement and perspectives and systems engineering under him, as well as responsibility for air technical manpower management.
Check out the navy’s spanking new MiG-29 Simulator Facility as Commander MP Felix takes you around on a guided tour of the complex.
Commander KHV Singh of the Indian Navy MiG-29K/KUB squadron, INAS 303 (Black Panthers) takes us around the aircraft.
Interestingly, the fighters involved will include a Russian MiG-29K and a MiG-35 prototype, which was part of the Indian Air Force tender for 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA).
Antony expressed India’s concern at the tardy progress made in the design and development of the Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA). Both countries will now meet again later this month to speed up work on the project.
