Kochi, Feb 7 (UNI) Indian Navy took a significant step towards operationalising the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier on INS Vikrant by successful landing of Naval Pilots flown MiG-29K, demonstrating India's prowess in Aircraft Carrier design, construction and operations while enhancing Navy's Combat Readiness.

"The successful landing and take off of the indigenous LCA Navy on India's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is a momentous step forward towards the realisation of our collective vision of Aatma Nirbhar 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." Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, said in a press release here on Monday.

INS Vikrant is the first indigenous Aircraft Carrier and the most complex warship ever built by our country. It is a matter of pride that the ship has been designed in-house by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited.

The ship had sailed for maiden Sea Trials on August 4, 2021. Since then, she has undergone sea sorties for trials of Main Propulsion, Power Generation equipment, Fire Fighting systems, Aviation Facility Complex equipment etc.

The Carrier was commissioned into the Indian Navy on September 2, 2022, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Chief Guest.

The construction of the Carrier is a big boost to the ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ vision of the Government of India. The Carrier has been undertaking extensive Air Operations with Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing aircraft since 13 Dec 22 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 06 Feb 23 by Indian Naval Test Pilots.

The landing of LCA(Navy) on deck has demonstrated ‘Aatma Nirbharta’ in 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 & produced by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) & 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.