Navys aviation arm spreads wings as it turns 60

Top officer says small air force will double in a decade

Listen to this article

00:00

1x 1.5x 1.8x

The Indian Navys aviation arm,which turns 60 next week,is now a small air force and all set to double its fleet of aircraft over this decade,Assistant Chief of Naval Staff,Rear Admiral D M Sudan has said.

The aviation arm was founded in May 1963. Six decades on,it flies 220 aircraft and will induct new squadrons in coming years. The first of them,a INAS 303 Black Panthers squadron of MiG 29K that is planned to operate off Vikramaditya aircraft carrier,will be commissioned in Goa next week,the first fighter squadron to be inducted in nearly three decades.

Rear Admiral Sudan said the Navy would double its 19 squadrons of aircraft,including helicopters,over this decade.

Story continues below this ad

Some of the new aircraft will replace the Sea Harriers fighters that have been with the Navy for nearly 30 years. Though the fighters service availability record remains close to 90 per cent,he added,they would be retired over the next two years as near the end of their service life. Two squadrons of Sea Harriers are planned to be replaced with the Naval version of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft.

That,however,depends on how the aircraft scores in the Navys carrier compatibility test to be conducted by the end of this year. The indigenous fighter has faced developmental hurdles and is not fully meeting requirements of the Indian Air Force.

Another aircraft that is headed for retirement in the next few years is the TU 142 long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft,which is being replaced with the Boeing P 8I anti-submarine and reconnaissance planes. Sudan said negotiations are on to procure four more of these aircraft.

Tags:
Indian Navy

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

Statehood protest takes violent turn in Ladakh, BJP office set ablaze in Leh

India3 hr ago

Protests in Ladakh turned violent as students and youth organisations demanded statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Two elderly protesters fainted, prompting a shutdown call. A BJP office and security vehicle were set on fire. Activist Sonam Wangchuk urged for a peaceful approach. The demand for Sixth Schedule status is due to Ladakh's tribal-majority population and direct central administration.

View all shorts

Live Blog