As the countdown to set the local aircraft carrier 1 as INS Vikrant in August 2022 has begun, the Indian Navy will conduct a flight test of the Rafale-Sea Fighter at the shore-based test facility of INS Hanseatic in Goa on January 6th as its exercise To determine the most suitable fighter for a 40,000-ton aircraft carrier. IAC 1 is located at the Cochin Shipyard and is currently undergoing intensive sea trials in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

According to officials familiar with the matter, the Rafale-M fighter jet will undergo intensive tests for nearly 12 days in the 283-meter simulated ski jumping facility of INS Hansa to evaluate whether the fighter jet is most suitable for IAC-1. The Rafale M fighter jet is the French carrier of Charles de Gaulle As early as 2008, its main weapon system demonstrated its interoperability with U.S. aircraft carriers.

The Indian Navy also plans to test the American F-18 Hornet at the same facility in March as an alternative to the Rafale-M fighter. The Boeing F-18 is a well-tested carrier-based multi-role fighter of the US Navy. It has been carrying out strike operations since the Gulf War in 1991. While the Indian Navy operates two MiG-29K squadrons on its only aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, the Russian aircraft is facing maintenance and spare parts supply issues.

DRDO’s LCA-M is still in the development stage, and two single-engine demonstration fighters are undergoing flight tests at INS Vikramaditya and the Goa-based shore-based test facility to provide input for the final twin-engine deck-based aircraft carrier fighter in the future. According to the Aviation Development Agency, the domestic twin-engine fighter is expected to undergo its first flight test before 2026 and enter the Indian Navy before 2031.

Although the decision to use IAC-1 fighter jets will be based on flight tests, the fact is that the airframe of Rafale-M is lighter and smaller than F-18, and it is more impactful than American opponents in terms of long-range air flight. Ground missiles. Naval aviation experts also stated that structural modifications to IAC 1 will be needed to load the F-18 into the elevator to transport the fighter from the rack to the upper flight deck because of its relatively large fuselage.  IAC-1 is expected to be on August 15, 2022, the 75th anniversary of India’s independence, so the Indian Navy is very likely to request the French manufacturer to lease four to five Rafale-Ms in 2022 so that the aircraft carrier can be put into service. India has established Rafale maintenance and flight training facilities at Ambala Air Force Base. Naval pilots will receive training at INS Hansa.

Complete News Source : Hindustan Times