[ The Navy Today ]

Introduction

The Naval Air Arm formally took birth with the commissioning of INS Garuda, a naval air station based at Kochi on 11 May 1953. A little earlier, on 04 February 1953, the first Indian Naval Aircraft - the Short Sealand [IN101] - landed at Kochi. IN101 joined the Fleet Requirement Unit, which later became the first Indian Naval Air Squadron - INAS 550 - on 17 June 1959. The aircraft carrier Vikrant arrived in 1961, with her squadrons of British Sea Hawk jets, French Alizé ASW aircraft and French Alouette III helicopters. The Vikrant would over time prove her worth in the Goa Liberation of 1961 and in the Indo-Pak War of 1971. The Navy has since set up a number of air stations along India's maritime borders and various aircraft, covering all dimensions of naval warfare, have been inducted. With the commissioning of a second aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, the Indian Navy adding more punch to her air power. This air power at sea is backed by state-of-the-art maintenance & logistics facilities in naval aircraft yards at Kochi and Goa, and with smaller facilities at the various naval air stations.

The Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology - established on 03 June 1957 at Kochi - is the alma mater for the air technical officers and sailors, and is an ISO 9001 recognised establishment. The courses conducted by NIAT for air technical officers, have been granted recognition by the Goa and Cochin Universities. Naval aviation is poised to grow in tandem with the overall growth of the Indian Navy and is envisaged to be in terms of platforms as well as technologies. The induction of UAV and AEW helicopters have introduced a new dimension to maritime air warfare. Indigenous development programs involving fixed wing aircraft, helicopters, air borne sensors and weapons are expected to ensure self-reliance in the future. Selective import of platforms and technologies would also be resorted to towards specific needs. The Naval Air Arm completed 50 glorious years in the service of the nation on 11 May 2003. Over the years, this arm of the Indian Navy has grown into a multi faceted force, fully equipped to meet the challenges of protecting our maritime boundaries and the assets of the nation at sea. © Indian Navy

Latest News

• The Indian Navy has plans to induct 40 HAL Tejas fighter aircraft (naval variant), 17 BAe Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainers, an unspecified number of HAL HJT-36 intermediate jet trainers and 15 NAL Saras aircraft over the next decade.

• Delivery of four MiG-29K fighter aircraft will commence in 2009 and delivery of the remaining twelve aircraft will be completed by 2010. This was confirmed by the Director General of Mikoyan, Mikhail Pogosyan, at Aero India 2009. These aircraft will likely join the INAS 300 and INAS 552 squadrons of the Indian Navy.

• The Boeing aerospace company, in a press release dated 06 January 2009, stated that have been awarded a contract to deliver eight P-8I Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft to the Indian Navy. The first aircraft will be delivered within 48 months of contract signing and the last aircraft will be delivered by 2015. The contract, which is reportedly worth US $2.1 billion, was signed on 01 January 2009 and thus the first aircraft is expected by early 2013. These aircraft will replace the ageing Tu-142 and IL-38 platforms. The Indian Navy plans to induct up to 30 new maritime surveillance aircraft by 2020 and recently issued an RFP (Request For Proposal) for six medium range maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

• Navy League reported in its July 2004 issue, that the Indian Navy would be issuing a RFT (Request For Tender) for up to 20 new anti-submarine warfare helicopters to replace the ageing Sea King Mk 42 and Mk 42A helicopters. It was reported on 12 September 2008, in Domain-B, that the Indian Navy issued a tender for 16 advanced, multi-role helicopters to companies AgustaWestland, EADS and Sikorsky and the order will likely increase to 44 additional units, to bring the total number up to 60 platforms. These helicopters are required to have in-flight refueling and anti-submarine & surface warfare capability, which will be their main role. Also required will be a secondary search & rescue role, MEDEVAC (medical evacuation) and utility missions from surface combatants.

EASTERN NAVAL COMMAND
NAVAL AIR STATION	SQUADRON DESIGNATION	AIRCRAFT TYPE
INS DEGA	INAS 311 Squadron	Dornier Do-228-101
	INAS 333 Eagles	Kamov Ka-28 and Kamov Ka-25
	INAS 350 Squadron	UH-3H Sea King
	-	Lakshya PTA
.	.	.
INS RAJALI	INAS 312 Albatross	Tupolev Tu-142 Bear-F
	INAS 561 Rotors	HAL Chetak
.	.	.
INS PARUNDU	-	HAL Chetak, Heron and Searcher Mk II
.	.	.

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