The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Navy, indigenously developed in India, on Monday operated from Indian Navy Ship (INS) Vikrant for the first time, a feat termed as "historic" by the Navy. The LCA was landed on the INS Vikrant by Indian Navy pilots. Along with the LCA-Navy, a MiG-29K fighter aircraft also operated on the INS Vikrant.
"The indigenously developed fighter aircraft LCA-Navy and the MiG-29K fighter aircraft today [Monday] made their first landings on the first made-in-India aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, in the Arabian Sea. This is a big achievement for the Make-in-India initiative in the defence sector and will boost indigenisation," Vice Admiral SN Ghormade was quoted as saying ANI.
Soon after the feat, the Navy issued a statement that read: "A Historical milestone achieved towards Atmanirbhar Bharat by Indian Navy as naval pilots carry out landing of LCA (Navy) onboard INS Vikrant."
The Navy said that Monday's achievement showed India's prowess in designing, developing, constructing, and operating indigenous aircraft carriers with locally made fighter aircraft. Monday's exercise involving the LCA-Navy sought to only demonstrate India's capabilities in developing the technology. However, this will lay out the path for indigenously manufacturing twin-engine deck-based fighter (TEDBF), reported Hindustan Times.
INS Vikrant (IAC-I), India's first indigenous aircraft carrier was commissioned in September last year. This put India on the list of an elite group of nations capable of manufacturing aircraft carriers in the over-40,000-tonne class.
The Navy says that its role will be crucial in the peace-keeping process in the Indo-Pacific region.
The TEDBF is a joint project of the Navy and the Defence Research Development Organisation. The production of TEDBF is still around a decade away with the roll-out of the first lot likely to start in 2032. Hence, the Navy is dependent on imports of deck-based fighters till then as an interim measure.
(With inputs from PTI.)