--- title: "India Conducted Dual Aircraft Carrier Drills For The First Time" description: "While the idea of the United States, Iran, and Russia all sending forces to take part in joint military maneuvers sounds like a fever dream, it became a reality last month, during an Indian Navy exercise — Milan 2024 —…" date: "2024-03-18" modified: "2024-03-18" authors: - name: "Angad Singh" job_title: "Contributor" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/angad-singh" url: "https://www.twz.com/sea/india-conducted-dual-aircraft-carrier-drills-for-the-first-time" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "Carriers" - "India" - "Indian Navy" - "Indo-Pacific" - "INS Vikrant" - "Iranian Navy" - "Navies" - "News & Features" - "Russian Navy" - "Sea" - "U.S. Navy" --- # India Conducted Dual Aircraft Carrier Drills For The First Time ![The Indian Navy’s two MiG-29K/KUB squadrons, INAS 300 “White Tigers” and INAS 303 “Black Panthers” embarked the carriers during Exercise Milan 2024.]() *Angad Singh* While the idea of the United States, Iran, and Russia all sending forces to take part in joint military maneuvers sounds like a fever dream, it became a reality last month, during an Indian Navy exercise — Milan 2024 — held in the Bay of Bengal. As well as this remarkable novelty, the drills also saw the Indian Navy’s first deployment of two operational short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) carriers and their embarked air wings, a measure of its growing ambitions as a blue-water force. ![]() *MiG-29Ks parked on the flight deck of INS *Vikramaditya* as exercise warships steam away toward Visakhapatnam after the conclusion of the sea phase. The nearest vessel is a Vietnam People’s Navy *Pohang* class corvette. *Angad Singh** Milan, a Hindi word meaning ‘coming together’ or ‘confluence,’ is an apt name for the Indian Navy’s flagship multilateral exercise. Taking place more or less biennially since 1995, Milan has grown from a five-navy regional affair to a truly international event in recent years. Drawing on the Indian government’s regional maritime cooperation vision, SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), and India’s G20 Presidency theme of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ which translates from Sanskrit as ‘the world is one family,’ the Indian Navy’s stated objective for Milan 2024 was “Camaraderie, Cohesion, Collaboration.” ![]() *The Indian aircraft carrier INS *Vikramaditya* seen through the cockpit of a Sea King 42C as it approaches to land. *Angad Singh** The 2024 edition of Milan was the twelfth and largest yet, bringing in 51 naval delegations, 16 foreign vessels, and one foreign patrol aircraft (a [French Atlantique 2]()). The Indian Air Force was also included for the first time, sending a detachment of HAL Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk 1 jets from No. 18 Squadron “Flying Bullets” to operate from INS *Dega*, the naval air station at Visakhapatnam on the Bay of Bengal. ![]() *A French Atlantique 2 from Flotille 23F and assigned to the French Indian Ocean Command (ALINDIEN) was the only foreign patrol aircraft at the exercise. *Angad Singh** ![]() *A MiG-29K is directed onto the hydraulic restraining gear on INS *Vikramaditya*’s flight deck to make ready for launch. *Angad Singh** Significantly, the exercise included a diverse set of participants, some of which would seem extremely unlikely to the casual observer. Namely, the United States, Iran, and Russia all sent warships to operate alongside each other — the [*Arleigh Burke* class]() destroyer USS *Halsey*, the *Moudge* class frigate IRIS *Dena*, and the [*Slava* class]() cruiser *Varyag*, [*Udaloy* class]() destroyer *Marshal* *Shaposhnikov*, and *Boris* *Chilikin* class tanker *Boris* *Butoma* respectively. https://twitter.com/US7thFleet/status/1759513049076056157 The willing attendance of these ostensible rivals highlights not only the Indian Navy’s broad-ranging international cooperation but also its eagerness to be seen as a partner for countries around the world, irrespective of divergent foreign policies. ![]() *An ALH Mk 3 hovering over the flight deck of *Vikrant* with an Indian Navy *Delhi* class destroyer and *Austin* class LPD INS *Jalashwa* visible in the background. *Angad Singh** Hosted by the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam, the exercise ran for nine days, divided into a five-day shore phase from February 21-23, involving subject matter exchanges, procedural and area familiarization, and sporting and cultural activities, before culminating in an international city parade to showcase the camaraderie fostered among participating forces. The sea phase then put all this to the test over the next four days, from February 24-27. The highlight of the sea phase was of course the Indian Navy’s maiden deployment of two operational carriers and their air wings. [INS *Vikramaditya*]() (formerly the Russian Navy’s *Admiral* *Gorshkov*) is a 10-year veteran of these waters, but Milan was the first major international exercise for the [Indian-designed and built INS *Vikrant*.]() ![]() *INS *Vikrant* at anchor, with a Sea King 42C about to land, shot from another Sea King 42C headed for the flight deck. *Angad Singh** The new carrier began at-sea trials back in August 2021, as you can read more about [here](), and was [commissioned]() only 18 months ago. After that, it [embarked its first Indian-made fighter jet]() in February 2023, although there are no plans for the HAL Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Navy version to be used in an operational context aboard the warship. INS *Vikrant* and *Vikramaditya* are equipped for short take-off but arrested recovery or STOBAR operations. This means the warships lack catapults. Instead, they launch fixed-wing aircraft off a ‘ski-jump’ ramp over the bow, before recovering them using arrester wires. ![]() *A MiG-29K approaches the flight deck of INS *Vikramaditya* on its way to a perfect middle-wire trap. *Angad Singh** The Indian Navy’s two [MiG-29K/KUB]() squadrons, INAS 300 “White Tigers” and INAS 303 “Black Panthers” embarked the carriers alongside the usual gamut of helicopters — venerable HAL Chetaks (Indian-made [Alouette IIIs]()) and Westland Sea Kings operated alongside [Kamov Ka-31 Helix]() airborne early warning helicopters, indigenous HAL Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk 3s, and the Indian Navy’s newest rotorcraft, the Sikorsky [MH-60R Seahawk](). Procurement of the last type reflects the Indian military’s growing willingness to acquire military aircraft from the United States, with the [Boeing P-8I]() maritime patrol aircraft indicative of the same trend. ![]() *A MiG-29K coming in for a missed approach on INS *Vikramaditya*. *Angad Singh** ![]() *Helicopter operations on INS *Vikrant* — an ALH Mk 3 is ‘hot refueled’ as a Sea King 42C lands. This Sea King, IN531, is one of the Indian Navy’s Mk 42B ASW helicopters converted to the utility Mk42C configuration. *Angad Singh** ![]() *A HAL Chetak being secured on the flight deck of *Vikramaditya*. *Angad Singh** https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1765361378997723590 The Indian Navy also debuted a common satellite communication network at the exercise called NISHAR (Network for Information SHARing). NISHAR terminals called Mitra (‘Friend’) were distributed across all ships to ensure seamless integration of forces at sea as they practiced everything from underway replenishment and basic gunnery to advanced coordinated anti-submarine, anti-surface, and air defense operations. “That we could do all this safely and smoothly is proof of the value of exercises like Milan,” noted a senior Indian Navy commodore as the exercise concluded aboard the aircraft carrier INS *Vikrant* on February 27. https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1762499072999739602 The closing day of the exercise also saw an operational demonstration aboard INS *Vikramaditya*, with a single MiG-29K carrying out a launch, display, overshoot, and landing cycle, and a Chetak plane-guard helicopter conducting a mock search and rescue (SAR) drill off the port bow. ![]() *HAL Chetak IN455 conducts a SAR winching demonstration alongside INS *Vikramaditya*. *Angad Singh** The carrier then joined the rest of the flotilla at anchorage off Visakhapatnam, and INS *Vikrant* hosted a range of helicopter operations, including ‘hot refueling’ of an ALH Mk 3 on the flight deck. Having two aircraft carriers exercise together reflects India’s growing naval aviation ambitions. As well as having decided to buy the [Dassault Rafale M]() as its new carrier-based fighter, India has a highly ambitious plan to develop its own Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter, or TEDBF, and plans for other new carriers are well advanced. INS *Vishal* is [planned to be significantly bigger]() than the *Vikrant*, at around 65,000 tons, compared to 40,000 tons for the earlier warship. It should feature a catapult-assisted takeoff but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) arrangement, and may make use of an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) after the United States [approved the transfer]() of this technology to India. As well as the more advanced INS *Vishal*, late last year [it emerged]() that the Indian Navy was also considering ordering another carrier to the same specifications as INS *Vikrant*. ![]() *The MiG-29K releases the arresting cable and folds its wings to clear the landing area as quickly as possible. *Angad Singh** The new carrier and plans for a domestically developed fighter to operate from it are hugely challenging endeavors, especially if they are to be realized by the 2030s, as plans call for. After all, even the less-ambitious *Vikrant* suffered a [string of major delays]() and cost overruns. Currently, only [France]() and the United States have CATOBAR-configured carriers in service, while China — India’s great regional rival — is [still working on achieving the same](). However, Milan 2024 demonstrates that the Indian Navy is rapidly developing its carrier capabilities, with a clear focus on increasing self-sufficiency in this critical area. Certainly, it will be interesting to watch the next steps in the Indian carrier saga. *Contact the editor: [thomas@thewarzone.com]()*