Posted on 12/25/2005 12:42:35 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
For Gorshkov, Navy pilots head to US for training
SHIV AROOR
NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 23: By the time Russian-built aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov arrives in 2008, the Navy will have a contingent of 32 pilots, trained in specialised deck-based fighter operations at the US Navy training command in Pensacola, Florida.
With the first batch of four Lieutenant-rank officers are already under training there, the next is scheduled to go in March.
The selection of venue for training to operate Russian-built MiG-29K fighters off the Gorshkov may seem strange but the government was compelled to accept the Pentagon’s offer because Russia has no facilities for intermediate deck-based flight training. The US Navy training school in Pensacola trains Naval F/A-18 Super Hornet pilots.
The first batch of four at Pensacola, led by training coordinator and seasoned Harrier pilot, Cdr Rohit Gupta, is currently training on the T-45 Goshawk (a variant of the British Hawk AJT) single engine trainer after completing a capsule on the T-34 Turbomentor propeller trainer.
They are scheduled to begin actual deck-qualifying from January. All eight batches of four pilots each will spend six months at the training command in US.
After this, each batch of four pilots will be sent to Russia for training on the MiG-29K, 16 of which would be operated off the Gorshkov. The MiG-29K is likely to be an option for the Air Defence Ship (ADS) being built in Kochi as well, alongside the Naval version of the LCA Tejas. Operating conventional jets off carriers will be a first for the Navy—it has so far used only Harrier jump-jets.
We need pics, small ones though
It's been a long time, Sukhoi! Welcome, and a Merry Christmas to you!
The other thing that does not mesh is why we would want to provide this training at any price.
They didn't buy the ship from us. They didn't buy the planes from us. No other Navy in the world comes close to the US Navy for carrier operations, and giving that edge away seems silly even if they are our friends for today.
The Indian navy could hardly pose any treat to the US.
On the contrary, India's Muslim extremist enemies are also our enemies.
Lets get this straight, the Russians build aircraft carriers but cant train pilots on how to fly to and from them? Thats why they have never been able to project strength far from the Motherland.
#2: The Indians are going to spend 6 months training at Pensacola and then going to Russia for further training? Imagine the culture shock.
India is playing to many sides. Usually this type of karma has a huge backfire in the future.
I think that Russian navy doesn't have aircraft carriers anymore.
The U.S. will not give its carrier technology to anyone. Russia has not only the technology, and the capacity, they could really use the cash.
Someone has made the calculation that a capable Indian military is in the interest of the U.S. A stable, powerful country in south Asia without expansionist designs would certianly be a boon to world peace.
"...I think that Russian navy doesn't have aircraft carriers anymore..."
Yep. Either mothballed or sold to places like India.
What's strange is Russia builds the hardware and cannot train people on how to use it. How do they know if it works in the first place?
India is not interested in expanding into the Pacific (at America's expense) like Communist China, as evidenced by its own enormous naval build-up currently underway. No doubt a policy decision has been made to help the Indians improve their Navy, specifically their carrier capabilities, so that they can help the U.S. Navy keep the ChiComs contained on the high seas.
And the way Pakistan is going, we will be working with them.
I didn't think this up, other threads on FR have spoken to this.
Did they ever have any in operation.
Do the same for any other current, world-wide aircraft carrier, or large deck amphibious assault ship at my:
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