DTN News: Indian Navy Inducts Its Most Modern Fighters
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Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) DABOLIM (GOA), India - February 20, 2010: 
The Navy inducted its most modern fighter — the MiG-29 K — at a ceremony here on Friday but the fighting machines will remain landlocked for the next three years due to the massive delay in the Gorshkov aircraft carrier that was to arrive from Russia in 2008.
While six of the modern fighters — which the Navy says with some justification are even more advanced than the IAF’s Su-30 MKI — have arrived in Goa and have been inducted into the Black Panthers squadron, they will remain confined to shore-based operations and training programme till 2013-14 when the aircraft carrier is finally expected to arrive.
The aircraft were inducted at a ceremony at the Hansa airbase by Defence Minister A K Antony in the presence of Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma.
Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) DABOLIM (GOA), India - February 20, 2010: The Navy inducted its most modern fighter — the MiG-29 K — at a ceremony here on Friday but the fighting machines will remain landlocked for the next three years due to the massive delay in the Gorshkov aircraft carrier that was to arrive from Russia in 2008.
While six of the modern fighters — which the Navy says with some justification are even more advanced than the IAF’s Su-30 MKI — have arrived in Goa and have been inducted into the Black Panthers squadron, they will remain confined to shore-based operations and training programme till 2013-14 when the aircraft carrier is finally expected to arrive.
The aircraft were inducted at a ceremony at the Hansa airbase by Defence Minister A K Antony in the presence of Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma.
The sophisticated Russian-made MiG-29K maritime fighter aircraft, which will be based on under-construction aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, were on Friday formally inducted into the Navy by Defence Minister AK Antony.
Four MiG 29Ks of the 'Black Panthers' squadron were inducted at a ceremony that was also attended by Navy chiefAdmiral Nirmal Verma.
India had placed orders for 16 MiG-29K in 2004 along with Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier from Russia, four of which landed in India on December 4 last year. 
"After induction, the fighter jets would be operated for around two years from the under-development shore-basedtesting facility (SBTF) at INS Hansa till the actual delivery of Gorshkov, rechristened as INS Vikramaditya, slated for2012," a senior naval officer said.
He said pilots will have to undergo training at the Intensive Flying and Testing Unit and a syllabus has beenevolved for all future pilots, who would fly the aircraft.
For operating the fleet of MiG 29Ks, India had sent 10 pilots for training to Russia and also to the US for decklanding training and on board a French aircraft carrier for operations training, he said.
India has only one aircraft carrier INS Virat but the MiG 29Ks can't be operated from it as they are too big to take off or land at the around 28,000-tonne warship.
While the Navy is trying to make the most of the aircraft and is even setting up a land-based training facility — complete with aircraft carrier style ski jump and arrestor wires — at the Hansa airbase, the fact remains that the fighters will spend one tenth of their flying life — they have a shelf life of 30 years — flying only from land.
"After induction, the fighter jets would be operated for around two years from the under-development shore-basedtesting facility (SBTF) at INS Hansa till the actual delivery of Gorshkov, rechristened as INS Vikramaditya, slated for2012," a senior naval officer said.
He said pilots will have to undergo training at the Intensive Flying and Testing Unit and a syllabus has beenevolved for all future pilots, who would fly the aircraft.
For operating the fleet of MiG 29Ks, India had sent 10 pilots for training to Russia and also to the US for decklanding training and on board a French aircraft carrier for operations training, he said.
India has only one aircraft carrier INS Virat but the MiG 29Ks can't be operated from it as they are too big to take off or land at the around 28,000-tonne warship.
While the Navy is trying to make the most of the aircraft and is even setting up a land-based training facility — complete with aircraft carrier style ski jump and arrestor wires — at the Hansa airbase, the fact remains that the fighters will spend one tenth of their flying life — they have a shelf life of 30 years — flying only from land. 
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