Aircraft carriers are the "fist power" of the modern navy and a symbol of a country's naval strength and comprehensive strength. It has a variety of combat capabilities, such as long-range strike, air defense operations, and anti-submarine warfare, and has become an important part of the country's strategic significance. The history of aircraft carriers can be traced back to World War II, when the USS Lexington and USS Yorktown became the first aircraft carriers in the true sense.
With the development of science and technology and the evolution of warfare, the design and combat capabilities of aircraft carriers have also been continuously improved. Modern aircraft carriers, represented by the Nimitz-class and Ford-class of the United States, have a huge displacement and a powerful power system, can carry dozens of carrier-based aircraft of various types, and can perform missions at sea for a long time.
The combat effectiveness of an aircraft carrier is mainly reflected in the carrier-based aircraft it carries. Carrier-based aircraft can perform a variety of tasks such as air strikes, reconnaissance, and mine-laying, thus posing a threat to ground targets, surface ships, and submarines. However, the deck space is limited, and carrier-based aircraft will rely on carrier-based aircraft tractors during take-off and landing on aircraft carriers. The role of this inconspicuous car in aircraft carrier operations cannot be ignored.
It is responsible for towing the carrier-based aircraft from the parked position to the take-off deck and, after landing, towing it back to the parked area. Because the take-off and landing of carrier-based aircraft require strict procedures and accurate locations, they cannot be parked at will. However, the carrier-based aircraft itself cannot realize the "reversing" function, and its flexibility is limited. The operation of the tractor must also be stable and reliable to ensure the safe take-off and landing of carrier-based aircraft. Because if you are not careful, you can crash a carrier-based aircraft into the sea.
In the Indian Navy, aircraft carriers are an important pillar of its maritime power. However, India spends a lot of money every year to purchase all kinds of advanced weapons, so its investment in aircraft carriers is also limited, and the principle of saving what can be done is implemented. Faced with a tractor worth tens of millions, comparable to Ferrari's more expensive. India, using "ingenuity", took an alternative and used civilian tractors instead of tractors.
The advantage of this alternative is that the cost is lower and there are a large number of off-the-shelf farm tractors available in rural areas. One is only a hundred thousand. India has retrofitted these agricultural tractors to increase their carrying capacity and maneuverability to accommodate the take-off and landing needs of carrier-based aircraft on aircraft carriers. Despite the fact that the performance of such civilian tractors may have certain shortcomings compared to the tractor, in the actual operation of the Indian Navy, they can still perform the basic towing function.
However, there are some potential problems with this alternative. Civilian tractors are not designed for carrier-based aircraft take-off and landing, so they may not be as stable and maneuverable as specialized tractors in complex maritime environments. In addition, the power system and operating mechanism of the tractor may also not meet the needs of carrier-based aircraft on the aircraft carrier and may need to be further improved and strengthened. Otherwise, if you are not careful, you may be able to pull the carrier-based aircraft into the sea.
It is important to note that the tires can also damage the deck if used for a long time, and future maintenance will be a significant expense. I don't know if India can figure out this account, after all, on the aircraft carrier, some screws are worth a car.
As an important piece of equipment on an aircraft carrier, the tractor undertakes the key task of taking off and landing carrier-based aircraft. Whether it is a special tractor or a civilian tractor, it should be continuously improved and upgraded in technology, performance and operation to ensure the safety of carrier-based aircraft in the process of take-off and landing.