The indigenously built naval variant of Tejas aircraft developed by DRDO made its first landing on the deck of INS Vikramaditya on 12th January 2020. The light combat aircraft took off from the ‘ski-jump’ deck of the aircraft carrier.
Crux of the Matter
The ski-jump is the upwardly curved ramp that provides sufficient take-off lift for fighter jets.
Both the landing and take off by the aircraft has made India a part of the select group of countries with the capability to operate a jet from an aircraft carrier.
The naval version of Tejas light combat aircraft is in the development stage.
The Indian Air Force has already inducted a batch of Tejas aircraft and further plans to induct 83 aircrafts costing Rs. 50,000 crores.
DRDO has developed the new naval variant of Tejas in collaboration with Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Aircraft Research and Design Centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and CSIR.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “it a great event in the history of Indian fighter aircraft development programme.”
Curiopedia
The Defence Research and Development Organisation is an agency of the Government of India, charged with the military’s research and development, headquartered in New Delhi. It was formed in 1958 by the merger of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production of the Indian Ordnance Factories with the Defence Science Organisation. With a network of 52 laboratories engaged in developing defence technologies covering various fields, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, land combat engineering, life sciences, materials, missiles, and naval systems, DRDO is India’s largest and most diverse research organisation. The organisation includes around 5,000 scientists belonging to the Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS) and about 25,000 other scientific, technical and supporting personnel. More Info
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