
2 aircraft carriers of the Indian Navy, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, recently demonstrated "twin carrier operations" with simultaneous take-off and cross-deck landing of MiG-29K fighter aircraft.
About INS Vikrant:
- INS Vikrant is a transformative achievement for India, being the country's first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier. Its development represents an important milestone towards becoming India's "Blue Water Navy".
- This ship, designed in-house by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.
- With the successful INS Vikrant, India has joined the elite group of countries including the US, Russia, France, UK and China that have the capability to design and build an aircraft carrier.
- Also, with a displacement of 43,000 tonnes when fully loaded, INS Vikrant is set to be the 7th largest among the carriers.
- INS Vikrant can operate an air wing of 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31, and MH-60R multi-role helicopters, along with indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters and Light Combat Aircraft (Navy).
- INS Vikrant uses the Short Take-Off but Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) method for launching and recovering aircraft. STOBAR combines elements of "short take-off and vertical landing" (STOVL) with "catapult-assisted take-off, barrier-arrested recovery" (CATOBAR).
- INS Vikrant is equipped with a ski-jump for launching aircraft and three "arrester wires" for their recovery.