Goemkarponn desk
VASCO: Indian Naval Air Squadron 316, the Navy’s second P-8l aircraft squadron, will be commissioned on 29 March 2022 at INS Hansa, Goa, in the presence of Admiral R Hari Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff.
As per the press release, INAS 316 will operate the Boeing P-8l, the most sophisticated multi-role long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (LRMR ASW) aircraft today. The aircraft is powered by twin jet engines and can be equipped with air-to-ship missiles and torpedoes.
The Indian Navy had acquired the first batch of eight P-8I aircraft in 2013 that are stationed at INS Rajali, Arakkonam. INAS 316 will operate the second batch of four additional aircraft acquired, adding teeth to the armour of the Indian Navy to deter, detect and destroy any threat to the nation in the IOR.
INAS 316 has been christened ‘The Condors’, one of the world’s largest flying birds with a large wingspan. The squadron’s insignia depicts a Condor searching over the blue expanse of the sea. The new air squadron will be commanded by Cdr Amit Mohapatra, an accomplished Boeing P-8l pilot with extensive operational experience.
