The Indian Navy has achieved another historic milestone after a MiG-29K aircraft undertook its maiden night landing on indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The night landing of the Russian-origin fighter aircraft took place on Wednesday night when the ship was sailing in the Arabian Sea.
"Indian Navy achieves another historic milestone by undertaking maiden night landing of MiG-29K on INS Vikrant indicative of the Navy's impetus towards aatmanirbharta,” the Navy said in a tweet.
In a separate statement, the force said that this challenging accomplishment, within three months of maiden day landing, demonstrates the “resolve, skill and professionalism of the Navy, Vikrant crew and Naval pilots.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Indian Navy on the successful trial and said it is a testimony of the professionalism of the Vikrant crew and Naval pilots.
"Congratulations to the Indian Navy for successfully undertaking the maiden night landing trials of MiG-29K on INS Vikrant. This remarkable achievement is a testimony to the skills, perseverance and professionalism of the Vikrant crew and Naval pilots. Kudos to them," Singh tweeted.
The Navy in its statement said 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 Light Combat Aircraft (Navy) was achieved on February 6. Since then, day and night landing trials of all helicopters in the Naval inventory have progressed," it said.
