Indian Shipborne Pilots to Train in Russia

To provide readiness of Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya for coming acceptance in the end of 2012, ten shipborne pilots of MiG-29K will be sent to Russia for training, reported news agency Brahmand.

India tied a contract with Russia for 16 deck-based fighters MiG-29K in 2004. In accordance with that agreement, 10 Indian pilots must pass a 3-month training course in Russia prior to the ship's delivery. Russia obliged to teach Indian pilots to perform deck takeoffs and arrested landings.

Most probably, the training would take place at NITKA simulator in Ukraine which was built by the Soviet Union for training of shipborne pilots.

After that, India will continue training process at Hansa air base, Goa.

Several MiG-29K fighters earlier delivered to India are based in Goa, India. Before commission of INS Vikramaditya into Indian Navy, the airplanes will attend naval operations from that base.

As for now, India has signed another agreement with Russia for additional batch of 29 fighters MiG-29K in order to meet future demands. All of those aircrafts will be based on the ship built in Russia.

- Rusnavy