Indian Navy achieves milestone with maiden night landing of MiG-29K on INS Vikrant

New Delhi, May 26 : The Indian Navy has achieved another milestone with a MiG-29K fighter undertaking a maiden night landing on the deck of INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a tweet congratulated the Indian Navy:

“Congratulations to the Indian Navy for successfully undertaking the maiden night landing trials of MiG-29K on #INSVikrant. This remarkable achievement is a testimony to the skills, perseverance and professionalism of the Vikrant crew and Naval pilots. Kudos to them.”

The successful maiden night landing of the MiG-29K on INS Vikrant is indicative of the Navy’s impetus towards Atmanirbhar Bharat, the navy said.

A statement said: INS Vikrant, the first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier and the most complex warship ever built in our country by M/s Cochin Shipyard Ltd, has undergone extensive Sea trials since her maiden sailing on August 4, 2021.

Commissioned into the Indian Navy on September 2, 2022 in the presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, the Carrier is a big boost to the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision of the Government of India.

The Carrier is presently undergoing Air Certification and Flight Integration Trials with Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing aircraft for achieving ‘Combat ready’ state at the earliest.

As part of the trials, the maiden day landing of MiG-29K and the indigenous LCA (Navy) was achieved on February 6, this year. Since then, day and night landing trials of all helicopters in the Naval inventory have progressed.

In continuation with the impetus on the Aviation Trials, the Navy has achieved another historic milestone by undertaking maiden night landing of MiG-29K on May 24.

This challenging accomplishment, within three months of maiden day landing demonstrates the resolve, skill and professionalism of the Indian Navy, Vikrant crew and Naval Pilots, it said.