“A journey that commenced on October 01, 1977, with the commissioning of the Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 315 at Goa, ends with the de-induction of the IL-38 today,” said Commander Mrinmoy Ghosh, Commanding Officer of the ‘Winged Stallions’ squadron addressing the members of the Commissioning crew and numerous others who gathered along with their families for the de-induction ceremony at INS Hansa last week. Cheers erupted from the crowd while several became emotional reminiscing their long association with the aircraft that served for 46 years.
The IL-38 Sea Dragon heralded long range maritime surveillance for the force and now the Navy has Dorniers at the lower end and the P-8Is at the higher end of surveillance and is looking to induct C-295 aircraft in the medium range Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) role in the near future in addition to adding more long endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).
