2 min readMoscowSep 30, 2009 12:00 PM IST
First published on: Sep 30, 2009 at 12:00 PM IST
Four MiG-29K ship-borne fighters developed for the Indian Navy have been successfully flight tested onboard a Russian aircraft carrier.
“During the tests on September 28-29,the MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB (trainer) fighters conducted several landings and take offs on the deck of the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier in the Barents Sea,” the MiG Corporation said.
Admiral Kuznetsov is the only aircraft carrier in service with the Russian Navy.
The flight tests were carried out prior to the delivery of these fighters to India. Though,the retrofit of the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov is delayed,the delivery of MiG-29K and their trainer version is on schedule.
The deck landing and take-off,the most crucial element of the carrier borne fighters’ flight,were performed by the MiG Corporation’s team of test pilots in the presence of the Indian naval officials on board Russia’s carrier.
The first two MiG-29Ks and two MiG-29KUBs already tested on the carrier were officially transferred to India earlier this year and are being used for a five-month flight training course for the Indian naval pilots.
The Gorshkov deal includes the supply of 12 single- seater MiG-29Ks and four two-seater trainer MiG-29KUB.
India and Russia are yet to reach a final agreement on the upgradation cost of Kiev class carrier to be inducted by the Indian Navy and a decision could be made during Defence Minister A K Anthony’s Moscow visit next month.
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