A panoramic camera brings you aboard Russia’s only aircraft carrier during “blue waters operations.”

Flight operations on the deck of Admiral Kuznetsov continue in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Shot with a 360-camera the following video shows Sukhoi Su-33 fighter jets being prepared for take-off and then another Flanker taking from the sky-jump of the Russian carrier.

Although the Su-33s are mainly used for air-superiority missions, screenshots from clips shot aboard the carrier showing the aircraft carrying FAB-500M-52 bombs on the centerline stations have made the rounds on social networks in the last few days, while the Russian MOD announced the beginning of the first air strikes launched from the carrier on targets located around Aleppo.

Still, we haven’t seen any clear footage of the aircraft actually taking off from Kuznetsov in that configuration even if it must be said that it’s not easy to spot the bombs carried underneath the fuselage between the air intakes.

On Nov. 13 a Russian Navy Mig-29KUBR operated by the 100th Independent Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment crashed while recovering aboard the carrier. The pilot managed to eject from the Fulcrum and was rescued by one of the Kamov helicopters embarked on Adm. Kuznetsov.

 

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The following video shows the Mig-29K naval Fulcrum operating aboard the new Indian aircraft carrier Vikramaditya.

Actually, the “new” aircraft carrier dates back to 1987, when it operated under the name of Baku in the Soviet Navy. It was decommisioned in 1996 and the Indian Navy purchased it in 2004 at an aggregate price of $2,35 billion.

H/T to Alexander Kroll for pointing this over

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As already reported Russian Mig-29K fighter jets are going to operate from INS “Vikramaditya”, the carrier once part of the Soviet Navy, purchased by the Indian Navy in 2004.

The carrier is conducting its final operational tests, including day and night take off and landing practice by a Russian Mig-29K.

New images of the trials have been released, some of those are quite cool as the one showing the takeoff of the naval Fulcrum from the aircraft carrier at dusk taken from a camera located between the engines, on the tailhook.

They remind a famous scene of Top Gun shot from a flying F-14 Tomcat.

Image credit: via Indiandefense.com

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As reported earlier, Mig-29K fighter jets are going to operate from INS “Vikramaditya”, the carrier once part of the Soviet Navy, purchased by the Indian Navy in 2004.

The carrier is conducting its final operational tests, including day and night take off and landing practice by a Russian Mig-29K.

The video is in Russian language but even if you can’t understand you can still see the interesting footage of the Fulcrum operating on the flight deck on the Indian carrier. Fully loaded and armed.

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According to the information relased by the Sevmash, shipyard testing of the refurbished Russian-made aircraft carrier flight deck with the participation of MiG-29K aircraft is to start in the following couple of days.

The new carrier, named Vikramaditya made it to the sea on Jul. 3 2013 in order to start the tests on the waters of White Sea. Indian and Russian Navy representatives are monitoring the process.

The carrier houses about 1,700 people now.

The carrier dates back to 1987, when under the name of Baku it was a part of the Soviet Navy. In 1996, it was decommisioned and the Indian Navy purchased the vessel in 2004 at an aggregate price of $2,35 billion.

Image Credit: thehindu.com

The INS Vikramaditya is to be operated by the Indian Navy, with embarked MiG-29K fighters.

The testing the ship currently undergoes involves radio comms and ATSK systems (specific systems that allow the planes to operate from the aircraft carrier). Additionally, the hazardous zones on the carrier deck have been marked.

Nonetheless the above tests seem insignificant in the light of the most important trial. According to defence24.pl during the night between Jul. 27 and 28 the vessel achieved its top speed of 29 knots specified in the tech requirements, even exceeding the target value by 0,2 knots.

She is still slightly slower than most of the American Nimitz class supercarriers. They are claimed to exceed the speed of 30 knots.

From the incomplete data above we may extrapolate that the announcement of the imminent flight ops means the testing was successful and it was given a general approval.

Jacek Siminski for TheAviationist

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