Under Intergovernmental Agreement, Fighter Jets Are Required For Aircraft Carrier Operations: Indian Navy

The Indian Navy declared on Tuesday that it needed fighter jets for its aircraft carrier operations, and that it had put the French Rafale and American F-18 planes through trials for those purposes.

Naval Vice Chief Vice Admiral SN Ghormade said that tests of the American and French aircraft were conducted to determine their suitability for aircraft carrier operations while speaking at a press conference on indigenization in the Navy.

“Rafale and Boeing F-18 have undergone trials to demonstrate their operability from aircraft carriers. Indigenization is what we’re after. Although it will take some time, we have a plan for twin-engine fighter aircraft that are deck-based. We are considering purchasing aeroplanes from foreign suppliers under the Inter-Governmental Agreement by the time the indigenous project is completed,” he stated.

The Navy’s initial plans to purchase 57 fighters under the plan to purchase aircraft from foreign sources have been reduced by more than half.

The Navy Chief responded, “We want to foster indigenization here,” in response to a question on when the Indian Navy will be able to manufacture conventional submarines independently.

The plan is to create certain capacities here and prepare for future indigenous development.

Six contemporary conventional submarines will be built by the Indian Navy as part of the Rs 60,000 crore Project 75 India.