On Board INS Vikramaditya:
On Saturday, the focus was on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden visit to a military asset, the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, but who are the men who lead and operate India's biggest and most potent ship? (
'It's a Moment of Pride for Me': PM Narendra Modi On Board INS Vikramaditya)
They range from Captain Suraj Berry, the skipper of the ship, to officers and men who carry out functions ranging from highly risky job of operating the MiG-29 K fighter jets from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier to those who run the ship's giant boilers and from those who direct the flight operations to those who run perhaps the biggest kitchen on a naval ship in Asia catering to over 1600 officers and men.
"This is an extremely proud moment. It is a matter of honor and pride for my team and the entire Indian navy that our Honorable Prime Minister chose to come on board today and dedicated our ship to the nation," Captain Suraj Berry told NDTV onboard the ship on Saturday.
The ship, India's biggest military acquisition in recent times, is expected to add muscle to India's maritime muscle.
"It is absolutely going to be a game changer, tremendously improve the combat capability and the reach of the Indian navy, and ensuring national security and defense for our nation's interest," Captain Berry added.
The presence of the MiG 29 K jets on board is one of the factors that adds potency to the ship's capability. But operating them is not easy. As Flight Lieutenant Vikas Nehrwal, one of the young pilots who has learnt the complex art and who briefed the PM about the aircraft when he sat in its cockpit, told NDTV, "Yes, first thing I have been flying this plane for quite some time. It's more difficult, it's quite difficult to fly from the deck. It's extremely difficult to land such a big aircraft coming at speeds of almost 282-290 kmph and landing within some 200 meters and then stopping within 90 meters and all this is happening on a moving deck, which adds on to the misery. So it's extremely difficult and extremely dedicated training and focus is required."
Although the Indian Navy has been operating aircraft carriers for over four decades, running a big carrier like the Vikramaditya is a complex and skillful operation, which these dedicated men and their colleagues do with elan and panache.