New Delhi. In a major boost to further strengthening the Coast Guard Region North West, 835 Sqn (CG), an Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK III squadron was commissioned by Director General VS Pathania, PTM, TM, the Director General Indian Coast Guard at ICG Air Enclave, Porbandar on June 28. The occasion was graced by various military and civil dignitaries based at Porbandar and Gujarat area.
The commissioning of this squadron earmarks a tremendous leap towards self-reliance in the field of SAR and maritime surveillance, in line with government’s vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”. ALH MK III helicopters that have been indigenously manufactured by HAL features state of art equipment including advanced RADAR as well as Electro optical sensors, Shakti engines, full glass cockpit, high-intensity searchlight, advanced communication systems, automatic identification system as well as search-and-rescue homer. These feature enables them to undertake maritime reconnaissance as well as carry out search and rescue at extended ranges even whilst operating from ships, both by day and night.
The aircraft has the ability to switch roles from an offensive platform with heavy machine gun to that of a benign one carrying a Medical Intensive Care Unit to facilitate transfer of critically ill patients. So far, 13 ALH MK-III aircraft havebeen inducted in the Indian Coast Guard in a phased manner and 04 of these aircraft are positioned at Porbandar. Since induction, the squadron has flown over 1200 hours and conducted numerous operational missions including the maiden night search and rescue mission off Diu coast.
835 Sqn (CG) is commanded by Commandant Sunil Dutt, and manned by 10 Officers and 52 men.
The commissioning of 835 Sqn (CG) will give a major fillip to the abilities of Indian Coast Guard in the security sensitive Gujarat region.
