List of Indian naval air squadrons explained

The Indian Navy currently operates twenty-five air squadrons. Of these, eleven operate fixed-wing aircraft, ten are helicopter squadrons and the remaining three are equipped with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Building on the legacy inherited from the Royal Navy prior to Indian independence, the concept of naval aviation in India started with the establishment of Directorate of Naval Aviation at Naval Headquarters (NHQ) in early 1948. Later that year officers and sailors from the Indian Navy were sent to Britain for pilot training. In 1951, the Fleet Requirement Unit (FRU) was formed to meet the aviation requirements of the navy. On 1 January 1953, the charge of Cochin airfield was handed over to the navy from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. On 11 March, the FRU was commissioned at Cochin with ten newly acquired Sealand aircraft. The navy's first air station, INS Garuda, was commissioned two months later. From February 1955 to December 1958, ten Firefly aircraft were acquired. To meet the training requirements of the pilots, the indigenously developed HAL HT-2 trainer was inducted into the FRU. On 17 January 1959, the FRU was commissioned as Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 550, to be the first Indian naval air squadron. In the following two years, three more naval air squadrons—INAS 300, INAS 310 and INAS 551—were commissioned. The first two operated from the newly purchased aircraft carrier flying Sea Hawks and Alizés, whereas the latter one, equipped with Vampires, was used for training purposes.

Between 1961 and 1971, three helicopter squadrons were commissioned—INAS 321, INAS 330 and INAS 561. The first two were equipped with HAL Chetak and Sea King 42Bs for search and rescue and anti-submarine roles respectively, whereas the later one assumed a training role. In December 1971, the squadrons embarked on the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant saw action in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. Between 1976 and 1977, INAS 312 and INAS 315 were commissioned with Super Constellation and Ilyushin Il-38s respectively. In December 1980, another helicopter squadron intended for anti-submarine warfare—INAS 333—was commissioned. It was initially equipped with Ka-25s, and with Ka-28s in late 1980s. In 1984, one patrol and one helicopter squadron—INAS 318 and INAS 336—were commissioned. The patrol squadron was initially equipped with Islander aircraft, but they were replaced by Dornier 228s in 2000. In November 1990, another Sea King squadron—INAS 339—was commissioned. Later in 1993, the Sea Kings were replaced by Ka-28s, and in 2003, Ka-31s were inducted, making it the only Indian naval air squadron for the role of airborne early warning and control.

Though several new fixed wing aircraft and helicopters were inducted into the navy in the early 2000s, they were assigned to the existing squadrons with no new squadrons being commissioned until 2006. In January of that year, INAS 342, the first squadron to be equipped with UAVs, was commissioned. Later that year, the Sea Harrier training assigned to INAS 551 were detached and commissioned separately as INAS 552. However, the Sea Harriers were phased out in May 2016, and presently the operational status of the squadron is unknown. On 24 March 2009, for the first time, two squadrons—INAS 311 and INAS 350—were commissioned on the same day. INAS 311 is intended for maritime patrol and operates Dornier 228s, whereas INAS 350, a multirole helicopter squadron, operates Sikorsky SH-3s. In 2011–2012, another two UAV squadrons—INAS 343 and INAS 344—were commissioned. In 2013, a fighter plane and a multirole helicopter squadron—INAS 303 and INAS 322—were commissioned with MiG-29Ks and HAL Dhruvs. On 6 March 2024, INAS 334 was commissioned with Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters.^[1]

List of Squadrons

scope=col rowspan=2 style="background-color:#9cf;"	Squadron name	scope=col rowspan=2 class=unsortable style="background-color:#9cf;"	Insignia	scope=col rowspan=2 style="background-color:#9cf;"	Nickname	scope=col colspan=2 class=unsortable style="background-color:#9cf;"	Aircraft operated	scope=col rowspan=2 style="background-color:#9cf;"	Role	scope=col rowspan=2 style="background-color:#9cf;"	Established	scope=col rowspan=2 class=unsortable style="background-color:#9cf;"	Citations
align= center scope=col style="background-color:#9cf;"	Aircraft	align= center scope=col style="width:21%; background-color:#9cf;"	Period
INAS 300		White Tigers	Hawker Sea Hawk	–	Fighter		^[2]
			BAE Sea Harrier	– ^[3]
			Mikoyan MiG 29K/KUB	– present^[4]
INAS 303		Black Panthers	Mikoyan MiG-29K	– present^[5]	Fighter		^[6]
INAS 310		Cobras	Breguet Alizé Br.1050	– ^[7]	Anti-submarine warfare		^[8]
			Dornier 228	– present	Electronic warfare Maritime patrol
INAS 311		Kites	Dornier 228	– present^[9]	Electronic warfare Maritime patrol
INAS 312		Albatross	Lockheed Super Constellation	– ^[10]	Maritime patrol Anti-submarine warfare		^[11]
			Tupolev TU-142M	– ^[12]
			Boeing P-8I Poseidon	– present^[13] ^[14]
INAS 313		Sea Eagles	Dornier 228	– present	Maritime patrol Search and Rescue		^[15]
INAS 314		Raptors	Dornier 228	– present	Maritime patrol Search and Rescue		^[16]
INAS 315		Winged Stallions	Ilyushin Il-38	– ^[17]	Maritime patrol Anti-submarine warfare		^[18]
INAS 316		The Condors	Boeing P-8I Poseidon	29 March 2022 – present	Maritime patrolAnti-submarine warfare	29 March 2022	^[19]
INAS 318		Hawks	Britten-Norman Islander	–	Maritime patrol		^[20]
			Dornier 228	– present
INAS 321		Angels	Alouette III/ HAL Chetak	– present	Search and rescue		^[21]
INAS 322		Guardians	HAL Dhruv	– present^[22]	Multirole		^[23]
INAS 323		Harriers	HAL Dhruv Mk.III MR	– present	Multirole		^[24]
INAS 324		Kestrels	HAL Dhruv Mk.III MR	– present	Multirole		^[25]
INAS 330		Harpoons	Sea King 42B	– present	Anti-submarine warfare		^[26]
INAS 333		Eagles	Kamov Ka-25	– ^[27]	Anti-submarine warfare
Kamov Ka-28			– present
INAS 334			Sikorsky MH-60R	6 March 2024 - present	Multirole	6 March 2024	^[28] ^[29] ^[30]
INAS 336		Flaming Arrows	Sea King 42B	– present	Anti-submarine warfare Training		^[31]
INAS 339		Falcons	Sea King 42B	– ^[32]	Airborne early warning and control
Kamov Ka-28			–
Kamov Ka-31			– present
INAS 342		Flying Sentinels	IAI Searcher Mk. II IAI Heron	– present	Reconnaissance		^[33]
INAS 343		Frontier Formidables	IAI Searcher Mk. II IAI Heron	– present	Reconnaissance		^[34]
INAS 344		Spirited Shadowers	IAI Searcher Mk. II IAI Heron	– present	Reconnaissance		^[35]
INAS 350		Saras	Sikorsky UH-3H	– June 2024^[36]	Multirole
			Sea King 42C	June 2024 – present^[37]	Multirole
INAS 550		Flying Fish	Short Sealand	– mid s	Maritime patrol		^[38]
			Fairey Firefly	– scrapped
			HAL HT-2	–
			Britten-Norman Islander	– 2016
			HAL HPT-32	–
			Dornier 228	– present
INAS 551		Phantoms	de Havilland Vampire	– ^[39]	Training		^[40]
			Hawker Sea Hawk	–
			Kiran Mk 1	–
			Kiran Mk 2	– present
			BAE Sea Harrier	–
			BAE Hawk Mk 132^[41]	November 2013 – Present^[42]
			Kiran Mk 2	– present	Aerobatics
INAS 552		Braves	BAE Sea Harrier	–	Flight testing
INAS 561		Rotors	Hughes S-300	–	Training		^[43]
Alouette III/ HAL Chetak			– present

See also

• Indian Naval Air Arm
• List of Indian naval aircraft

Notes

Footnotes

Citations

External links

• Indian Navy official website
• Indian naval aviation official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Navy commissions MH 60R Seahawk choppers to enhance maritime security . 2024-03-07 . India Today . en . 25 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240325160504/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/navy-commissions-mh-60r-seahawk-choppers-to-enhance-maritime-security-2511582-2024-03-07 . live .
2. Web site: History of Indian Naval Air Squadron 300. SP's MAI. 10 December 2016.
3. Web site: Indian Navy to bid adieu to Sea Harrier Fighters . Indian Navy . 15 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161115194519/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/indian-navy-bid-adieu-sea-harrier-fighters . 15 November 2016 .
4. Web site: De-induction of Sea Harrier and Induction of MiG 29K Fighter Aircraft . Indian Navy . 15 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161115194428/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/de-induction-sea-harrier-and-induction-mig-29k-fighter-aircraft . 15 November 2016 .
5. Web site: Antony to commission MIG-29 K fighters into Navy . News18 . 15 November 2016 . 6 May 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161115193746/http://www.news18.com/news/india/antony-to-commission-mig-29-k-fighters-into-navy-607512.html . 15 November 2016 .
6. Web site: CNS Address: Commissioning Of INAS 303 . Indian Navy . 15 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161115194223/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/sites/default/files/speech/CNS_Address_Commissioning_of_INAS_303_Goa_11_May_13.pdf . 15 November 2016 .
7. Web site: Dorniers INAS 310 . Indian Navy . 15 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161115194207/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/dorniers . 15 November 2016 .
8. Web site: Indian Navy's INAS 310 celebrates 50 glorious years . Brahmand . 15 November 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161115193354/http://www.brahmand.com/news/Indian-Navys-INAS-310-celebrates-50-glorious-years/6617/1/10.html . 15 November 2016 .
9. Web site: Dorniers INAS 311 . Indian Navy . 15 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116022127/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/dorniers-0 . 16 November 2016 .
10. Web site: INAS 312 celebrates Silver Jubilee . Indian Navy . 15 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116022115/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/inas-312-celebrates-silver-jubilee . 16 November 2016 .
11. News: Naval reconnaissance squadron celebrates silver jubilee . The Hindu . 10 December 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161221102251/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/naval-reconnaissance-squadron-celebrates-silver-jubilee/article5367686.ece . 21 December 2016 . 2013-11-19 .
12. Web site: Indian Navy to de-induct long-range patrol aircraft TU 142M after 29 years of service. The Economic Times. 27 July 2017. 26 March 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170609014541/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indian-navy-to-de-induct-long-range-patrol-aircraft-tu-142m-after-29-years-of-service/articleshow/57838532.cms. 9 June 2017.
13. Web site: Navy's Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft Boeing P-8I Dedicated to the Nation . Indian Navy . 15 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116020857/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/navy%E2%80%99s-long-range-maritime-patrol-aircraft-boeing-p-8i-dedicated-nation . 16 November 2016 .
14. Web site: India Inducts First Squadron of Anti-submarine warfare Plane . The Diplomat . 15 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161109163242/https://thediplomat.com/2015/11/india-inducts-first-squadron-of-anti-submarine-warfare-plane/ . 9 November 2016 .
15. Web site: Indian Navy Commissions Dornier Squadron INAS 313 at Chennai. 22 July 2019. Ministry of Defence. 25 July 2019. 25 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190725102043/http://www.pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx%3FPRID%3D1579765. live.
16. Web site: Commissioning of INAS 314 - "RAPTORS". 29 November 2019. Indian Navy. 29 November 2019. 30 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191130145514/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/commissioning-inas-314-%E2%80%9Craptors%E2%80%9D. live.
17. Web site: After 46 Years, Navy's Last Il-38SD Maritime Reconnaissance Plane Retires . 2024-03-07 . NDTV.com . 5 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231105170259/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/after-46-years-navys-last-il-38sd-maritime-reconnaissance-plane-retires-4532616 . live .
18. Web site: IL38 INAS 315 . Indian Navy . 15 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116022459/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/il38 . 16 November 2016 .
19. Abhishek Bhalla. January 5, 2022. Indian Navy enhances reach with new reconnaissance aircraft squadron based in Goa. 2022-02-20. India Today. en. 5 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220105033857/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-navy-enhances-reach-with-new-reconnaissance-aircraft-squadron-based-in-goa-1896080-2022-01-05. live.
20. Web site: Dornier INAS 3118 . Indian Navy . 16 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116165009/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/dornier . 16 November 2016 .
21. Web site: Chetak/Allouette INAS 321 . Indian Navy . 16 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116164843/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/chetakallouette . 16 November 2016 .
22. Web site: The squadron, named Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 322, will help in advanced search and rescue (SAR) missions, heliborne operations, and armed patrol with night-vision devices. The Times of India. 16 November 2016. 3 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180303141820/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/The-squadron-named-Indian-Naval-Air-Squadron-INAS-322-will-help-in-advanced-search-and-rescue-SAR-missions-heliborne-operations-and-armed-patrol-with-night-vision-devices-/articleshow/25628012.cms. live.
23. Web site: ALH (Dhruv) INAS 322 . Indian Navy . 16 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116164920/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/alhdhruv . 16 November 2016 .
24. Web site: INAS 323 commissioned at Goa as first unit of indigenously built ALH MK III enters Naval Service. PIB. 2021-04-19. 8 August 2021. 6 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210606142832/https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1712715. live.
25. News: Indian Navy commissions the first ALH Squadron INAS 324 in Visakhapatnam . The Hindu . 4 July 2022 . 4 July 2022 . 4 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220704164713/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/indian-navy-commissions-the-first-alh-squadron-inas-324-in-visakhapatnam/article65599141.ece . live .
26. Web site: Sea King 42B . Indian Navy . 16 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116164715/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/seaking-42b . 16 November 2016 .
27. Web site: Kamov 25 INAS 333 . Indian Navy . 16 November 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116164608/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/kamov-25 . 16 November 2016 .
28. News: Kochi to house 1st MH60R Seahawk chopper squadron . 2024-03-01 . The Times of India . 0971-8257 . 3 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240303192047/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/kochi-to-house-1st-mh60r-seahawk-chopper-squadron/articleshow/108126323.cms . live .
29. Web site: MH 60R helicopter: Indian Navy to bolster anti-submarine warfare capabilities with MH 60R helicopter induction . 2024-03-01 . . 4 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240304174528/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indian-navy-to-bolster-anti-submarine-warfare-capabilities-with-mh-60r-helicopter-induction/articleshow/108110155.cms . live .
30. News: Paul . John L. . 2024-02-29 . Six MH 60R multi-mission helicopters to be commissioned into Indian Navy in March . 2024-03-01 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X . 1 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240301055759/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/six-mh-60r-multi-mission-helicopters-to-be-commissioned-into-indian-navy-in-march/article67899848.ece . live .
31. Web site: Seaking INAS 336 . Indian Navy . 16 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116164659/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/seaking . 16 November 2016 .
32. Web site: Kamov 28 INAS 339 . Indian Navy . 16 November 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116164932/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/kamov-28 . 16 November 2016 .
33. Web site: UAV INAS 342 . Indian Navy . 16 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116164957/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/uav . 16 November 2016 .
34. Web site: Indian Naval Air Squadron 343 . Indian Navy . 16 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116164907/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/inas-343 . 16 November 2016 .
35. Web site: INAS 344 Commissioned . Indian Navy . 16 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116164352/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/sites/default/files/press_release_document/PRel_120411_INAS-344-Commissioned.pdf . 16 November 2016 .
36. Web site: INAS 350 . Indian Navy . 16 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116163903/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/uh-3h . 16 November 2016 .
37. News: 2024-06-28 . Indian Navy bids farewell to UH-3H helicopter after 17 years of service . 2024-06-28 . The Economic Times . 0013-0389.
38. Web site: INAS 550 – The Flying Fish . Indian Navy . 16 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116164621/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/dorniers-1 . 16 November 2016 .
39. Web site: Tank Busting In The Chamb . Bharat Rakshak . 16 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161017170457/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/1965war/1160-tango.html . 17 October 2016 .
40. Web site: Kiran MK 1/1A/2 INAS 551 . Indian Navy . 16 November 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116164944/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/kiran-mk-11a2 . 16 November 2016 .
41. Web site: Hawk Mk 132. 13 January 2020. 13 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200113090604/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/hawk-mk-132. live.
42. News: Advanced Jet Trainer Aircraft Joins Navy. 13 January 2020. 13 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083543/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/advanced-jet-trainer-aircraft-joins-navy. live.
43. Web site: INAS 561 – Helicopter Training School . Indian Navy . 16 November 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116164855/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/chetak-helicopter-training-school . 16 November 2016 .