Article Posted on : - Jul 09, 2011

NEW DELHI (PTI): Set to induct two new aircraft carriers in the next few years, the Navy is looking to acquire state-of-the-art radar systems for carrying out ship-borne fighter jet operations.

"We are considering induction of shipborne precision approach radars to assist in recovery of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters during landing on aircraft carriers," officials said here.

They said the Navy has issued a Request for Information in this regard and has sought responses from global vendors.

Operating its lone aircraft carrier INS Virat, India is due to induct two more such warships in future including the Russian-origin Admiral Gorshkov and the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, which is under construction at Kochi.

The Navy has already started inducting the MiG 29K fighter jets as part of the Admiral Gorshkov deal and its pilots have begun training for ship-borne operations.

The 44,500 tonne Admiral Gorshkov is expected to join the naval fleet by the end of next year and the 40,000 tonne IAC is supposed to be inducted by 2014.

Work on the naval version of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is also on and is expected to be ready for trials soon.