The Indian Naval Air Arm is the aviation branch and a fighting arm of the Indian Navy which is tasked to provide an aircraft carrier-based strike capability, fleet air defence, maritime reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare.
The Flag Officer Naval Aviation (FONA) appears to direct the field operations of the air arm.
History
The first naval air station, INS Garuda, was inaugurated in Cochin on 11 May 1953. This went hand-in-hand with the commissioning of the No.550 Squadron,Bharat-Rakshak.com – Indian Navy Timeline – "11 May 1953: First Naval Air Station, INS Garuda, inaugurated at Cochin. No.550 Squadron (consisting of Sealand and Firefly aircraft) commissioned" utilising Short Sealand aircraftNaval Aviation Museum, Dabolim, Goa, India – http://www.warbirdsofindia.com and Fairey Firefly aircraftNaval Aviation Museum, Dabolim, Goa, India – http://www.warbirdsofindia.com
The commissioning of No.300 White Tigers Squadron,Bharat-Rakshak.com – Indian Navy Timeline – "1960: No.300 White Tigers Squadron (consisting of Sea Hawk aircraft) commissioned." consisting of Sea Hawks, happened in 1961.Naval Aviation Museum, Dabolim, Goa, India – http://www.warbirdsofindia.com
In 1961, (formerly HMS Hercules) was acquired by the Indian Navy. Vikrants initial airwing consisted of British Hawker Sea Hawk fighter-bombers and a French Alize anti-submarine aircraft. On 18 May 1961, the first jet landed on board, piloted by Lieutenant (later Admiral) Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani. That year, the No.310 Cobras Squadron (consisting of Alize aircraft) was commissioned. After playing an important role in several major Indian military actions, specifically the Liberation of Goa and the India-Pakistani war of 1971, she was decommissioned in January 1997 and scrapped.Dismantling of INS Vikrant begins
In 1976, the Indian Air Force handed over Super ConstellationNaval Aviation Museum, Dabolim, Goa, India – http://www.warbirdsofindia.com aircraft to the No.312 Albatross SquadronBharat-Rakshak.com – Indian Navy Timeline – "1976: No.312 Albatross Squadron (consisting of Super Constellation aircraft) commissioned." in Dabolim, Goa. Being fairly old aircraft at that point, these were withdrawn from active service by 1983. To replace them in the maritime patrol role, Soviet aircraft were acquired. The No. 315 Winged Stallions Squadron was commissioned in 1977 with the Ilyushin Il-38 aircraft.Bharat-Rakshak.com – Indian Navy Timeline – "01 October 1977: No.315 Winged Stallions Squadron (consisting of IL-38 aircraft) commissioned."
In December 1961, INS Vikrant participated in Operation Vijay, the liberation of Goa from Portugal. Its role was primarily to deter foreign naval intervention during the 40-hour-long military action.
INS Vikrant played a major role in the successful naval blockade of East Pakistan.Aircraft Carriers: The World's Greatest Naval Vessels and Their Aircraft By Richard Jones, Chris Bishop, Chris Chant, Christopher Chant Stationed off the Andaman & Nicobar Islands escorted by the , as well as , Vikrant redeployed towards Chittagong at the outbreak of hostilities.< The morning of 4 December 1971, the eight Sea Hawk aircraft on Vikrant launched an air raid on Cox's Bazar from away. That evening, the air group struck Chittagong harbour. Other strikes targeted Khulna and Mongla. A PTI message is supposed to have read, "Chittagong harbour ablaze as ships and aircraft of the (Pakistan) Eastern Naval Fleet bombed and rocketed. Not a single vessel can be put to sea from Chittagong". Air strikes staged from Vikrant continued till 10 December 1971.
Given naval intelligence that indicated the intent of the Pakistan Navy to break through the Indian Naval blockade using camouflaged merchant ships, Vikrants Sea Hawks struck shipping in the Chittagong and Cox's Bazar harbours, sinking or incapacitating most merchant ships there.
The Hughes 269 helicopter was previously in service for training.
The BAE Sea Harrier inducted in the 1980s operated from . Until 6 March 2016, the BAE Sea Harrier FRS Mk.51 / T Mk.60 flew with the INAS 300 and INAS 552 squadrons of the Indian Navy. The Sea Harriers are armed with the Matra Magic-II AAM and the Sea Eagle Anti-ship missiles. The aircraft were upgraded with the Elta EL/M-2032 radar and the Rafael Derby BVRAAM missiles.Bharat-Rakshak.com : The White Tigers of Rewa
Year 1988 saw the induction of Tupolev 142M into service. The aircraft started operations from Dabolim in Goa and later shifted its operations to INS Rajali in 1992. Tu-142M was primarily used in the long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare role. The aircraft served the navy till 2018 and participated in the Indian Peace Keeping Mission in Sri Lanka. Also participated in Operation Cactus in Maldives, in which the fleeing mercenaries were detected and tracked until apprehended by ships.
On 11 May 2013, first squadron of MiG-29K was commissioned. These aircraft were commissioned as a replacement of the ageing Sea Harrier. after 46 years of service the Il-38 patrol aircraft was retired from the force on 31 October 2023. More P-8I aircraft are planned to replace them.
Westland Sea King Mk.42B/C: Used principally for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and search & rescue roles, the helicopter fleet operate from INS Garuda (Kochi) as well as INS Shikra air stations. US sanctions on India in response to India's nuclear tests resulted in a large part of the Sea King fleet being grounded for want of spare parts. Seventeen of the Sea King helicopters will be upgraded. The upgrade will feature day and night capability, the capability to work in adverse weather conditions, integration of two anti-ship missiles with a range of fifty kilometres and a new radar. The six Mk.42C variants, earlier forming a part of Marine Commando Flight, replaced the UH-3H Sea Kings of the INAS 350 squadron in June 2024. The Mk.42C serves the role of a utility and transport helicopter. After 36 years of service, the Mk.42B fleet was decommissioned on 15 June 2026. This left the Mk.42C fleet in service as the last of the type still in service.
The Naval Aviation Museum located in Bogmalo, from Vasco da Gama, Goa, India showcases the history of the Naval Air Arm.
Aircraft inventory
Fixed-wing aircraft Mikoyan MiG-29K
As reported by MiG Bureau, the Indian Navy's association with the MiG-29K began in Apr 2002 when a team led by Commander Gupta reached Moscow to evaluate the MiG-29K prototype for possible induction into the Indian Navy.MiG-29K/KUB FULCRUM-D at Bharat-Rakshak The Team evaluated the aircraft on ground as well as in the air (the flight evaluation was conducted by a Navy Test Pilot Commander Ahuja). Some other aircraft were also evaluated but the MiG-29K was chosen. On 20 January 2004, the Indian Navy signed a contract for 12 single-seat MiG-29K and 4 two-seat MiG-29KUB. The first MIG-29K for the Indian Navy took flight on 22 January 2007. The MIG-29 KUB (two-seat trainer) is similar to the MIG-29K but with reduced operational range. The aircraft will be fielded on the aircraft carrier .
The first squadron, INAS 303, the "Black Panthers", was commissioned on 11 May 2013. On 11 July 2016, second squadron, INAS 300, was commissioned. The delivery of the aircraft to the Indian Navy started in 2009.
The fighter plane is different from the MiG-29 flown by Indian Air Force. The aircraft has been modified for aircraft carrier operation by hardening the undercarriage. It also has much better 'over-the-nose' vision to make it easy to land aboard a carrier at a high angle of attack. Modifications made for Indian Navy requirement featured Zhuk-ME radar, RD-33MK engine, combat payload up to , 13 hardpoints (inclusive of the multi-lock bomb carriers), additional fuel tanks situated in dorsal spine fairing and wing LERXs, increased total fuel capacity by 50% comparing to first variant of MiG-29 and an updated 4-channel digital fly-by-wire flight control system. With special coatings, the MiG-29K radar reflecting surface is 4–5 times smaller than of basic MiG-29. Cockpit displays consist of wide HUDs, 3 colour LCD MFDs (7 on the MiG-29KUB), a French Sigma-95 satellite GPS module and Topsight E helmet-mounted targeting system compatible with the full range of weapons carried by the MiG-29M and MiG-29SMT.
Boeing P-8I Neptune
New Delhi and Boeing signed a $2.1 billion contract in January 2009 to deliver eight P-8Is for anti-submarine operations, to replace the ageing fleet of Russian-manufactured Tupolev Tu142M planes. The P-8I varies from the P-8A, wherein it has a Magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) and an aft-mounted radar that provides it with 360-degree aerial radar surveillance capability. It features communication and other devices on board that have been indigenously developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The first squadron, INAS 312, was formed with eight aircraft in November 2015. A follow-on order worth over $1 billion for the purchase of four additional P-8Is was signed in July 2016. The Indian Navy decommissioned the Tupolev Tu-142M aircraft in March 2017. With Boeing delivering the 12th and the final P-8I in February 2022, the second squadron, INAS 316, with four aircraft was formed in March 2022.
In 2026, 6 additional P-8Is were ordered.
Dornier 228
Indian Navy operates 27 Dornier 228 and in process to induct 8 more state-of-the-art Dornier for anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrol from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. These aircraft are equipped with advanced sensors, glass cockpit, advanced surveillance radar, ELINT, optical sensors and networking features. Currently 4 of Dornier 228 NG aircraft in service in INAS 314.
Helicopters
HAL Dhruv: developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the Navy received its first Dhruvs on 28 March 2002.Bharat-Rakshak.com : HAL Dhruv at Aero India '05 It is expected to receive a total of 120 units to replace the Chetak helicopters in service. The naval variant is fitted with the Super Vision-2000 maritime radar, capable of detecting targets with low radar cross-section at a range of . The anti-submarine version of the helicopter is fitted with dunking sonar, torpedoes, depth charges. The helicopter may also be fitted with the missiles for anti-ship roles. However, in 2008, the Indian Navy pronounced Dhruv unsuitable for its role as an ASW platform. Indian Navy will continue to procure Dhruv as a multi-role utility platform. During the commissioning ceremony Vice Admiral Sinha said that "In the Navy, Dhruv helicopters have transformed into an advanced search and rescue (SAR) helicopter also used for missions like heliborne operations, and armed patrol with night vision devices. Such machines in the inventory have become imperative for the Navy given the scenario of low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO) and coastal security construct." In 2013 Indian Navy showed keen interest in the armed version of the HAL Rudra. Impressed with the Dhruv's sensors which were able to track ships and also read their names at ranges of . The Navy may induct 20 more helicopters into service. A new squadron INAS 323 Harriers was commissioned with HAL Dhruv MKIII variant. Navy placed order for 16 MKIII helicopters and 6 of them are delivered with the remaining 10 to be delivered by Dec 2021. Naval variant of MKIII comes with 19 specific systems suited for maritime role.
Kamov Ka-28 and the Kamov Ka-31: The Ka-25 was acquired by the Indian Navy in 1980 for anti-submarine warfare, but had severe technological limitations. The Ka-28s were acquired in the mid-80s and were said to be a quantum leap over their predecessors from an ASW standpoint. The Ka-31Bharat-Rakshak.com : Eyes in the Skies takes the Kamov capabilities even further by enabling real-time network-centric warfare for the Indian Navy.