India Navy Aircraft Carriers

[Gessler]

Helo ops on the Vikrant

 

[Umigami]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1610972154870497281

Could it fit into your lift ?

 

[Gessler]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1610972154870497281

Could it fit into your lift ?

Fit, yes. But it could require modifications.

 

[Afif]

Fit, yes. But it could require modifications.

What kind of modifications? you cant fold the wing anyway.

 

[Umigami]

Fit, yes. But it could require modifications.

Which one?
The lift or Rafale?

 

[Gessler]

What kind of modifications? you cant fold the wing anyway.

Which one?
The lift or Rafale?

Modifications to the process, rather than the equipment.

Taking the aircraft up at an angle. Removing wingtip rails & folding up the nosecone prior to moving onto lift, then reattaching the rails (& lowering nosecone) once on the flight deck.

Official sources have stated that Rafale as it exists is capable of fitting in Vikrant lifts, as they exist. No structural mods necessary.

 

[Umigami]

Removing wingtip rails

Isn't this not Ideal at all ?

 

[Gessler]

Isn't this not Ideal at all ?

Nope - but to be expected when there's a change in the planned air wing.

The Vikrant's aviation complex was designed & meant for the MiG-29K, but that aircraft proved to be a bad investment.

 

[Gessler]

 

[Nilgiri]

 

[Gessler]

More pics of flight ops via Vikrant's official Twitter handle:

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1633792832279392257

 

[Gessler]

During TROPEX-23, with Deepak-class oiler and Kolkata-class destroyer

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1642941027177893888

 

[Gessler]

INS Vikrant - then & now

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1659843273366851590

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1661661332020555777

 

[Gessler]

MH-60R begins flight ops from Vikrant

 

[Nilgiri]

 

[Gessler]

Here it is - a feast for the eyes, been waiting for these pics for a long time!

Both Indian carriers - Vikrant & Vikramaditya - along with their battle group, performing combined carrier ops in the Arabian Sea:

Cooperative engagement, battle group coordination, subsurface operations (must be submarines in this group we aren't seeing), refueling, resupplying as well as cross-decking of aviation components - everything was practiced in this exercise.

@Nilgiri