Aerospace Diary

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  AUGUST 9, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS A line-up of MiG-29Ks belonging to Indian Navy squadron 303, which was commissioned in late May for service aboard the INS Vikramaditya. (Photo: Indian Navy) August 9, 2013, 10:30 AM India will launch its 37,500-ton  indigenous aircraft carrier ( IAC -1)  on August 12 at the Cochin Shipyard in Kerala. The ship is scheduled for induction by the end of 2018. Meanwhile, the former Russian aircraft carrier  Admiral Gorshkov , now the  INS Vikramaditya,  conducted final trials in the Barents Sea this week with its squadron of MiG-29K combat jets embarked. It is due to be delivered by year-end, after a delay of more than four years. Designed by the Directorate of Naval Design, the  IAC -1 will be named  INS  Vikrant . It is 260 meters (850 feet) long and 60 meters (200 feet) wide. Powered by four gas turbines, it will be capab...

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  MAY 10, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS May 10, 2013, 10:30 AM The Indian Naval air arm is set to double its fleet of 217 aircraft in the next decade. The fleet–a mix of 14 models–“has emerged as a mini air force,” said assistant chief of naval staff (Air) Rear Admiral  D.M.  Sudan. On May 11 the Navy will commission the first of three MiG-29K squadrons at its base in Goa. One is for training. The 16 aircraft originally ordered have all been delivered, as have four of a further 29. They will fly from the aircraft carrier  INS  Vikramaditya  (previously  Admiral Gorshkov ), which has taken five years longer than planned to be refitted. Later, they will also fly from the Indian-built aircraft carrier ( IAC -1), which is under construction in Kochi in Kerala. The MiG-29Ks are replacing Sea Harriers that previously received a limited upgrade. The  VTOL  aircraft will b...