from Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Apr 7: Ahead of fighter aircrafts Mig 29 K’s arrival in India, the facility to maintain and train the pilots for this frontline aircraft was inaugurated on Monday April 7 at INS Hansa naval base in Goa.
 
The first phase of the facility was formally inaugurated at the hands of vice-admiral J J Bedi, commander-in-chief, Western Naval command.
 
“I think this is the first time in my service career of 40 years that I witness construction and availability of major infrastructure project prior to the induction of hardware in the Indian Navy,” Bedi commented.
 
The Indian team consisting of pilots and maintance staff are already in Russia doing their training and first batch of four aircrafts should be available with us by middle of this year, he said.
 
Bedi said that these frontline aircrafts which will embark on INS Vikramaditya, the aircraft carrier which will be ready to serve India in next two years, are MiG variant of 29 which is meant to fly from an aircraft carrier.
 
“Total 16 aircrafts are contracted for of which 12 are the strike aircrafts and four are trainers. They will be based ashore its called Indian Naval airsquadron 303 it will be based at INS Hansa and will embark the aircraft carrier whenever it will be available,” he said.
 
The Indian Navy expects to have all the 16 aircrafts by middle of next year.
 
He said that  certain things are done like its wings can fold so its storage on board becomes easy. “It has better endurance,, better radar and the under carriage has been strengthened in order to land on the deck,” the vice admiral said.