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INS Vikrant gets a French touch: What changed aboard India's aircraft carrier for Rafale M

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The flight deck adjustments featured a specialized triangle landing aid inspired by the French carrier Charles de Gaulle, complementing the existing optical landing system that catches incoming jets traveling at 240 kmph. Following successful preliminary evaluations at the shore-based facility in Goa, a Rafale M achieved its maiden landing on the warship on October 29. Ongoing modifications are now focusing on the ship's lifts to accommodate the jet's rigid, non-folding 10.9-metre wingspan. Full operational clearance will still require the vessel to validate deck handling, weapon systems, and regular maintenance procedures.

Key points

  • A triangle landing aid modeled after French naval carrier systems helped facilitate the m…: A triangle landing aid modeled after French naval carrier systems helped facilitate the maiden landing of the Rafale M.
  • Non-folding wings spanning 10.9 metres pose operational challenges that require modificat…: Non-folding wings spanning 10.9 metres pose operational challenges that require modifications to the lifts on INS Vikrant.
  • Additional flight campaigns alongside maintenance and weapons tests are necessary before…: Additional flight campaigns alongside maintenance and weapons tests are necessary before the jets reach full operational deployment.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The

Indian Navy's

INS Vikrant, the first aircraft carrier built domestically, has undergone some changes as the ship prepares to induct the Rafale M. The first of the 26 naval variants of the fighter is scheduled to be inducted in the navy from 2028 onwards. Recently, the Rafale made its first landing on the INS Vikrant. Changes were made to the flight deck of the 45,000 tonnes ship, the largest of any warship made in India, ahead of the maiden landing of the aircraft on the sailing airbase. The Indian Navy has made a triangle landing aid on the ship, similar to the one found on the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

Why a carrier landing is so unforgiving

A land runway runs to thousands of feet. A carrier's landing area is a fraction of that, and it sits on a deck that pitches and rolls with the sea. The jet comes in at roughly 240 kmph, and its tailhook has to catch one of the four arresting wires, which stops the aircraft in about one to two seconds.…

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