INS Vikramaditya - Central News Hub

Indian Navy flexes muscle with twin-carrier mega exercise

The Indian Navy carried one of the biggest demonstrations of its formidable capability in recent years by carrying out exercise in the Arabian Sea involving both its aircraft carriers – the INS Vikramaditya and the indigenously built INS Vikrant, along with participation of over 35 aircrafts, reports Asian Lite News

The Indian Navy showcased its formidable maritime capabilities on Saturday with a spectacular display of multi-carrier operations and the coordinated deployment of more than thirty-five aircraft in the Arabian Sea.

This demonstration of naval prowess underscores India’s commitment to safeguarding its national interests, maintaining regional stability, and fostering cooperative partnerships in the maritime domain, said an official statement. It also marks a significant milestone in the Indian Navy’s pursuit of enhancing maritime security and power projection in the Indian Ocean, and beyond, it said.

The statement said that the exercise involved the seamless integration of two Aircraft Carriers INS Vikramaditya and the indigenously built INS Vikrant- along with a diverse fleet of ships, submarines and aircraft, showcasing India’s technological expertise in the maritime domain.

The statement said, “INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, centre-pieces of the exercise, serve as ‘floating sovereign airfields’, providing a launch platform for a wide array of aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets, MH60R, Kamov, Sea King, Chetak and ALH helicopters.”

These mobile bases can be positioned anywhere, allowing for increased mission flexibility, timely response to emerging threats and sustained air operations to safeguard our national interests across the globe, it added.

In addition, they provide our friends with an assurance that the Indian Navy is capable and ready to support our ‘collective’ security needs in the Region, the statement stated.

SKY IS THE LIMIT#IndianNavy undertakes twin-carrier CBG ops with more than 35 aircraft in #ArabianSea, demonstrating its formidable capability in ensuring sustained air ops across the vast maritime expanse & underscoring our commitment to safeguarding India’s national interests. pic.twitter.com/yOsvHFvQqM
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) June 10, 2023

It also added that the successful demonstration of two-carrier battle group operations serves as a powerful testament to the pivotal role of sea-based air power in maintaining maritime superiority.

As India continues to strengthen its security apparatus, the significance of Aircraft Carriers will remain paramount in shaping the nation’s defence strategy and promoting regional stability, the statement said. (ANI)

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INS Vikramaditya set to rejoin Navy fleet after 15-month refit

While the air operations will begin in April, various checks of armaments and surface-to-air missile systems onboard will begin in March itself…reports Asian Lite News

India’s first aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya is likely to start sailing next week as the major refit that it has been undergoing at Karwar Naval Base over the last 15 months has been completed.

This will be followed by extensive sea trials after which the 45,000-ton aircraft carrier will be handed over to the Indian Navy by March 31 and the MiG-29K fighter operations will start in April 2023, according to a report in the Hindustan Times.

INS Vikramaditya is expected to move to the outer anchorage of Karwar Naval Base powered by its own engines and will start sea trials between Goa and the home port, INS Kadamba, in March, the report cited officials as saying.

While the air operations will begin in April, various checks of armaments and surface-to-air missile systems onboard will begin in March itself.

The aircraft carrier will give the Indian Navy added punch with 26 MiG-29K fighters and 10 Kamov Ka-31 advance electronic warning (AEW) and Ka-28 anti-submarine warfare helicopters on board.

Following the retrofit, The Indian Navy is set to deploy two fully-fit aircraft carriers, the other being INS Vikrant, which is currently undergoing sea trials. Once deployed the two carriers–one for the western seaboard along the Arabian Sea and the other in the Bay of Bengal—will add considerable maritime firepower in the Indo-Pacific region. This assumes significance at a time when China is increasing its naval presence in the region.

In a major success for 'Make in India' in defence, the Indian Navy is soon going to deploy indigenous firefighting bots on its largest warships including the aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. #INSVikrant #MakeInIndia #IndianNavy #India pic.twitter.com/vfEVvbwHax
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) February 18, 2023

According to the Hindustan Times, while INS Vikrant will be based in Visakhapatnam on the country’s eastern seaboard, INS Vikramaditya will operate on the western seaboard.

The Narendra Modi government has already initiated the process to acquire fighter jets for INS Vikrant with the choice being narrowed down to the French Rafale-M and the US F-18.

The government on the basis of the Navy’s recommendation will purchase 26 fighters on a government-to-government basis, which includes eight twin-seated trainers.

(India Narrative)

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