The Indian Navy’s first Advanced light Helicopter squadron was commissioned in Kochi on Tuesday by Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command.
The squadron to be known as Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 322 is an exclusive group of Dhruv, the AlHs designed and manufactured indigenously for the first time by Hindustan Aeronautics ltd, Bangalore. It would help the Indian Navy for search and rescue operations during night hours in a very effective manner.
Dhruv, with its multirole capabilities, had proven its mettle in all the three services of the armed forces, Indian Coast Guard, BSF and the inventory of foreign countries, according to a Navy release. INAS 322 would function under the administrative control of Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command.
Commissioning the squadron, Vice Admiral Sinha said that the Dhruv helicopters had transformed into an advanced search and rescue helicopter also used for missions like heli-borne services and armed patrol with night vision devices in the Indian Navy. They have been operational at INS Garuda, the naval air station at Kochi, since March, 2002.
Vice-Admiral Sinha said that machines like Dhruv had become imperative for the Navy given the scenario of low-intensity maritime operations and coastal security situation. Vice-Admiral Soni said that the versatile aircraft would soon be cleared for night search and rescue role as this was one of the few helicopters in the world with that capability over the sea.