INS Vikrant Aircraft Carrier (IAC)

FalconSlayers

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So they'll need something for both the carriers? Or is Vikramaditya going to be retired prematurely?? Isn't that a gigantic waste of $2.35B?
It indeed was, bad choice of buying it, even Russian aircraft carrier Kuznetsov is giving them headaches plus we forget that Vicky is very old, it’s a 2nd hand AC which we purchased from Russia.
 

WolfPack86

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Indian Navy tries out Rafale for carrier operations
The Indian Navy is beginning practical tests of foreign aircraft as it seeks a new carrier-borne fighter. First up is the Rafale.
The Indian Navy (IN) is scheduled to begin flight trials of Dassault’s Rafale Maritime (M) fighter from 6 January, as part of an endeavour to acquire multirole carrier-borne fighters for the 37,500t indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
IN sources said trials of the French fighter would be conducted over 12 days at its Shore-Based Test Facility (SBTF), which has a 283m-long mock-up ski jump facility at INS Hansa in Goa.
These trials aim to meet the IN’s January 2017 requirement to import 57 carrier-borne fighters, a number that sources said could be reduced to 36 platforms due to budgetary constraints. …

 

angryIndian

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Can anybody explain it to me,Rafale has a non folding wing and it's wingspan is 11 meters where as the lift of IAC 1 is 10 meters. So why is navy going after this plane ?
 

Blank

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Can anybody explain it to me,Rafale has a non folding wing and it's wingspan is 11 meters where as the lift of IAC 1 is 10 meters. So why is navy going after this plane ?

According to people familiar with the matter, the Rafale-M is better suited for use on the aircraft carriers than the F18 Hornet fighter from the US for several reasons. They pointed out that it can fit into the lift bay of the Vikramaditya, unlike the F18 which cannot fit the lift of the Vikramaditya even with folded wings. The Rafale-M's dimensions also mean more of them (14) can fit onto the deck of the Vikramaditya as compared to 10 or 11 F18s.

It also requires very minimal modification to the wheel-chokes of the Vikramaditya, which are reversible and can be de-modified, if required.

The Rafale-M can carry up to four-five tonnes of external load (with full internal fuel) for a ski take-off. With lesser internal fuel, it can carry more weapons depending upon mission requirements. Thus it can carry out all roles, including combat air patrol, intercept, AD escort, as well as sea and land-strike with full internal fuel.

Officials familiar with the matter also added that unlike the F18s, which requires the carriers to be fitted with a new carrier optical landing system, the Rafale M’s can work with the existing one on the Vikramaditya.
There’s also the benefit of a common platform across the navy and the Air Force, one of the people said. Apart from synergies in logistics and maintenance, this person added, Indian Navy pilots could be trained on IAF’s Rafales for “faster induction”.
 

IndianHawk

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So they'll need something for both the carriers? Or is Vikramaditya going to be retired prematurely?? Isn't that a gigantic waste of $2.35B?
Vikramaditya will serve till 2054. It has service life of 40 years after extensive refit.
It's almost a new carrier with all new cables and piping ( almost 3000km in length).
That's why it's cost inflated because most of things were changes for new.

Mig29k too will serve full service life. HAL is proposing upgrade for them including uttam aesa and astra mk1/mk2.
 

MonaLazy

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They pointed out that it can fit into the lift bay of the Vikramaditya, unlike the F18 which cannot fit the lift of the Vikramaditya even with folded wings
Shishir Gupta does not know what he is talking about..

SH wingspan: 14m
SH folded wingspan: 9.32m

Rafale M wingspan: 10.8m .. folding is not an option

SH also has a very capable EA variant- the Growler & has navalised single and two seaters, Rafale M is only single seat. F414 brings commonality of engines with Mk2 & AMCA & TEDBF. Finally picking SH automatically means deeper integration with USN right from pilot training to tactics and smoother interoperability. IN SHs take off from Indian ACC, perform the mission and land on perhaps more suitably positioned US ACC- refuel mid-air and on board with each other's assets etc etc.




Vikramaditya will serve till 2054.
Are these new carriers meant for both or only Vikrant?

Can anybody explain it to me,Rafale has a non folding wing and it's wingspan is 11 meters where as the lift of IAC 1 is 10 meters. So why is navy going after this plane ?
11.2m width & the diagonal is always longer than the side & the deck lifts are on the edge of the ACC. If a portion of the plane hangs over the ocean with all 3 wheels firmly locked on the deck- then Rafale M is an easy fit even positioned normally but will be comfier diagonally.

 
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MonaLazy

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Edits to above

Are these new carriers fighter planes meant for both or only Vikrant?



11.2m width & the diagonal is always longer than the side & the deck lifts are on the edge of the ACC. If a portion of the plane hangs over the ocean with all 3 wheels firmly locked on the deck lift- then Rafale M is an easy fit even positioned normally but will be comfier diagonally.
 

IndianHawk

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Shishir Gupta does not know what he is talking about..

SH wingspan: 14m
SH folded wingspan: 9.32m

Rafale M wingspan: 10.8m .. folding is not an option

SH also has a very capable EA variant- the Growler & has navalised single and two seaters, Rafale M is only single seat. F414 brings commonality of engines with Mk2 & AMCA & TEDBF. Finally picking SH automatically means deeper integration with USN right from pilot training to tactics and smoother interoperability. IN SHs take off from Indian ACC, perform the mission and land on perhaps more suitably positioned US ACC- refuel mid-air and on board with each other's assets etc etc.






Are these new carriers meant for both or only Vikrant?



11.2m width & the diagonal is always longer than the side & the deck lifts are on the edge of the ACC. If a portion of the plane hangs over the ocean with all 3 wheels firmly locked on the deck- then Rafale M is an easy fit even positioned normally but will be comfier diagonally.

New jets are only for Vikrant as of now.
 

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