Goa,7/1: The Indian Navy will conduct tests to conduct flight tests of the Rafale-M fighter aircraft from this week. This test will be conducted at Naval Air Station INS Hansa. According to the English newspaper Hindustan Times, it will be tested whether the jet is fit for use on the indigenous ship INS Vikrant or not.
Codenamed as Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 (IAC 1), INS Vikrant is an aircraft carrier built by the Cochin Shipyard for the Indian Navy. It is currently participating in sea trials near the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. The Rafale-M fighter will be tested for about 12 days at the 283-metre mock-up ski jump facility at INS Hansa.
what is special
The Rafale-M is better suited for use on aircraft carriers than the US F18 Hornet fighter aircraft for several reasons. It can fit into Vikramaditya’s lift bay unlike the F18, which cannot fit Vikramaditya’s lift even with the wings folded. The Rafale-M can carry up to 4-5 tonnes of external load (with full internal fuel) for ski take-off. With less internal fuel, it can carry more weapons depending on the requirements of the mission. Officials also said that unlike the F18s, which require the carriers to be fitted with a new carrier optical landing system, the Rafale M can operate with the existing instrument on the Vikramaditya.
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