After UK, Indian Navy Tests Naval UAV From Vikrant Aircraft Carrier, Big Milestone For India!

Defense News - The Indian Navy has achieved a significant milestone with the successful testing of the landing and take-off of an indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from the deck of its homegrown aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. This marks the first instance of the Indian Navy conducting such tests on a naval UAV from its own aircraft carrier.

Although the landing occurred earlier this year, Navy officials kept it confidential until now, showcasing the navy discreet efforts in enhancing its drone capabilities. The INS Vikrant, having attained full operational status, is set to be deployed for the Milan naval wargames in February 2024.

In its pursuit of advanced capabilities, the Indian Navy is actively developing aerial designs for Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) to accommodate a range of unmanned aerial vehicles, including UAVs, UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles), and uncrewed fighter jets.

The Indian Navy first incorporated UAVs into sea operations in the 2000s, introducing two variants of fixed-wing UAVs, namely Searcher and Heron. Additionally, the indigenously developed Navy TEJAS achieved a historic milestone with its maiden landing on the INS Vikrant in February 2023. This achievement is hailed as a testament to India self-reliance in defense manufacturing, showcasing the nation ability to design, develop, construct, and operate indigenous aircraft carriers with homegrown fighter aircraft.

The INS Vikrant, with dimensions of 262 meters in length, 62 meters in width, and a displacement of around 40,000 metric tons, boasts a flight deck spanning 12,500 square meters, equivalent to 10 Olympic-size swimming pools. With a maximum speed of 28 knots, an endurance of 7,500 nautical miles, and the capacity to carry a crew of 1,600, the INS Vikrant stands as a formidable asset for the Indian Navy.

The ongoing project also involves the Indian Navy exploration and assessment of Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) swarm capabilities for practical application. Success in this endeavor could potentially lead to larger-scale orders in the future.