INS Vikrant Welcomes Rafale Marine! Fighter Jet Completes Maiden Landing on First Attempt

India’s naval aviation programme has reached a significant milestone with a Rafale Marine fighter jet successfully landing on the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on its very first attempt. The successful landing marks an important step towards introducing the advanced French-origin fighter aircraft into the Indian Navy.

The Indian Navy announced the achievement on Friday, October 30, sharing visuals of the fighter jet landing on the aircraft carrier. The historic landing took place on October 29, 2026, during ongoing trials to assess the aircraft’s compatibility with the carrier.

In a post on X, the Navy confirmed that the Rafale Marine aircraft completed its maiden landing successfully on INS Vikrant without requiring another attempt.

The Navy described the ongoing trials as the first steps towards the operationalisation of the Rafale Marine in the Indian Navy. These trials are an important part of integrating the carrier-based fighter into India’s naval aviation capabilities.

The development is particularly significant for INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier, as it moves towards expanding its combat aviation capabilities.