Naval Aviation turns 60, all set to double its aviation fleet

[indian_foxhound]

The Navy is all set to double its aviation fleet from
the existing 200-odd planes to over 400 planes in
the next decade, when it will have at least three
combat air squadrons flying the newly-inducted
Russian-origin MiG-29Ks. “The number of Indian Navy’s aircraft will almost
double in the next decade. The number of fighter
squadrons, which is two at present, will increase
to at least five. Two training squadrons will also
come up and these will operate the Advanced Jet
Trainers,” Navy’s Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air) Rear Admiral D M Sudan said here. The Naval Aviation wing is celebrating its
Diamond Jubilee year in 2013. “In the last sixty
years, it has emerged as a mini air force,” Sudan
said, talking about the growth of the force he
heads. Sudan is a Sea Harrier pilot and has
commanded the squadron on board INS Viraat. At present, the Indian Navy’s aviation arm has
217 aircraft in its fleet, including Sea Harriers and
MiG-29K combat jets, apart from several
helicopters including the British SeaKings, Russian
Kamov, indigenous Dhruv Advanced Light
Helicopters, and the Chetaks. It also operates eight air stations and 19
squadrons, including the fixed wing fleet of
Tu-142s long range maritime reconnaissance and
Dornier surveillance planes. The naval aviation
arm currently operates a squadron of ageing
British Sea Harriers that fly from the lone aircraft INS Viraat and it will on May 11 commission its
second combat squadron that will operate the
Russian-origin MiG-29K planes. The MiG-29K is the
combat air component of INS Vikramaditya, the
erstwhile Admiral Gorskhov aircraft carrier of the
Russian Navy that was bought by India in 2004. INS Vikramaditya is scheduled to join the Indian
Navy service after its refit at the Russian Sevmash
shipyard by December 2013, almost five years
behind its original schedule of 2008 that was
fixed for induction when the warship was
bought. The naval aviation arm has also placed an order
for 17 new AJTs from the British plane
manufacturer BAE Systems that will form part of
the two training squadrons for combat pilots of
the Indian Navy. The Navy is also in the process of procuring 16
Multi Role Helicopters as a replacement for the
ageing SeaKings, apart from 56 utility helicopters
to replace the Chetaks. To strengthen its long-range maritime
reconnaissance fleet, the Navy will induct the US-
built Boeing P-8I, eight of which will be inducted
beginning this year.

http://idrw.org/?p=21660

 

[IND151]

The Navy is all set to double its aviation fleet from
the existing 200-odd planes to over 400 planes in
the next decade, when it will have at least three
combat air squadrons flying the newly-inducted
Russian-origin MiG-29Ks. “The number of Indian Navy’s aircraft will almost
double in the next decade. The number of fighter
squadrons, which is two at present, will increase
to at least five. Two training squadrons will also
come up and these will operate the Advanced Jet
Trainers,” Navy’s Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air) Rear Admiral D M Sudan said here. The Naval Aviation wing is celebrating its
Diamond Jubilee year in 2013. “In the last sixty
years, it has emerged as a mini air force,” Sudan
said, talking about the growth of the force he
heads. Sudan is a Sea Harrier pilot and has
commanded the squadron on board INS Viraat. At present, the Indian Navy’s aviation arm has
217 aircraft in its fleet, including Sea Harriers and
MiG-29K combat jets, apart from several
helicopters including the British SeaKings, Russian
Kamov, indigenous Dhruv Advanced Light
Helicopters, and the Chetaks. It also operates eight air stations and 19
squadrons, including the fixed wing fleet of
Tu-142s long range maritime reconnaissance and
Dornier surveillance planes. The naval aviation
arm currently operates a squadron of ageing
British Sea Harriers that fly from the lone aircraft INS Viraat and it will on May 11 commission its
second combat squadron that will operate the
Russian-origin MiG-29K planes. The MiG-29K is the
combat air component of INS Vikramaditya, the
erstwhile Admiral Gorskhov aircraft carrier of the
Russian Navy that was bought by India in 2004. INS Vikramaditya is scheduled to join the Indian
Navy service after its refit at the Russian Sevmash
shipyard by December 2013, almost five years
behind its original schedule of 2008 that was
fixed for induction when the warship was
bought. The naval aviation arm has also placed an order
for 17 new AJTs from the British plane
manufacturer BAE Systems that will form part of
the two training squadrons for combat pilots of
the Indian Navy. The Navy is also in the process of procuring 16
Multi Role Helicopters as a replacement for the
ageing SeaKings, apart from 56 utility helicopters
to replace the Chetaks. To strengthen its long-range maritime
reconnaissance fleet, the Navy will induct the US-
built Boeing P-8I, eight of which will be inducted
beginning this year.

Naval Aviation turns 60, all set to double its aviation fleet | idrw.org

Thanks for info