The Indian Navy has commissioned the multi-role helicopter squadron INAS 335 Ospreys at INS Hansa in Goa. The induction was carried out within the presence of Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi.
The Indian Navy on Wednesday commissioned its multi-role helicopter squadron INAS 335, often known as the Ospreys, at INS Hansa in Goa. The commissioning ceremony was held within the presence of Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi and marked with a ceremonial water cannon salute. Addressing the occasion, the Navy chief underlined the rising complexity of the maritime safety atmosphere. “The maritime atmosphere round us, as we speak, is extra advanced and contested than ever earlier than. Shifting geopolitics, fast-moving applied sciences and an increasing spectrum of threats – from grey-zone actions to provide chain disruptions at sea – are shaping this new actuality,” Admiral Tripathi stated.
He added that strengthening maritime safety stays central to defending India’s increasing maritime pursuits. “Strengthening maritime safety and deterrence, subsequently, are basic to safeguarding our sea strains of communications, and rising nationwide maritime pursuits,” he stated.
Milestone for Naval aviation and western seaboard
The Navy chief described the induction of the MH-60R helicopter squadron on the Western Seaboard as a serious operational milestone. “The induction of the versatile, multi-role MH60R helicopter on the Western Seaboard, as the primary operational squadron, marks an vital milestone for our Navy,” he stated. He additionally famous the historic significance of the yr. “The commissioning as we speak additionally comes at a second of nice significance – 2025 marked 75 years for the reason that Authorities of India authorized the formation of a Fleet Air Arm, a choice that gave wings to Naval Aviation, thereby reworking our Navy right into a potent multi-dimensional pressure and giving us a decisive edge at sea,” Admiral Tripathi stated.
Historic hyperlink to Operation Vijay
Recalling a defining second in naval historical past, the Navy chief stated, “It’s a matter of even higher significance that, exactly 64 years in the past, on the night time of 17/18 Dec 1961, commenced Operation Vijay, whereby ships of the Indian Navy sailed into Goa, to liberate it from the Portuguese.” “There too, Naval Aviation performed an element, with the erstwhile Vikrant and its integral air wing stationed simply past the horizon, securing the approaches to Goa,” he added.
Increasing maritime surveillance and strike functionality
Talking on the Navy’s future roadmap, Admiral Tripathi stated the pressure is transferring forward with the acquisition of 15 MQ9B Sea Guardian RPAs to boost persistent maritime surveillance and Maritime Area Consciousness. “Along with constructing its shore-based aviation capabilities, the Indian Navy has maintained an unwavering concentrate on the enhancement of the integral shipborne aviation capabilities – each mounted and rotary wing,” he stated. He highlighted the significance of the just lately signed contract for 26 Rafale-M carrier-borne plane. “Complementing the deck-based fighters, rotary-wing platforms, that embody the shipborne Uncrewed Aviation Programs, prolong the Fleet’s capability to undertake persistent floor and air surveillance, standoff anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, logistics help and search-and-rescue at sea,” the Navy chief stated.
Senior Naval management current
The ceremony was attended by Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of Workers Western Naval Command Rahul Vilas Gokhale, Assistant Chief of Naval Workers Air Janak Bevli and Flag Officer Commanding Goa Space Rear Admiral Ajay D Theophilus. The occasion concluded with a march previous by the newly commissioned “flying destroyers”.
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