New Delhi, December 17: The Indian Navy on December 17 commissioned INAS 335, also known as ‘The Ospreys’, at INS Hansa in Goa, marking the induction of the Navy’s second air squadron equipped with MH-60R multi-role helicopters. The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.
The induction of INAS 335 follows the commissioning of the Navy’s first MH-60R helicopter squadron at Kochi in Kerala in March 2024, reflecting the steady expansion of the Navy’s rotary-wing aviation capabilities. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, was present at the ceremony.
During the event, the Commissioning Warrant of the squadron was read out by Captain Dhirender Bisht, the Commanding Officer of INAS 335. The Commissioning Plaque was unveiled by Mrs Laila Swaminathan, President of the Naval Wives Welfare Association, Western Region. The ceremony concluded with a traditional water cannon salute to mark the occasion.
Several senior naval leaders and dignitaries attended the commissioning, including Vice Admiral Rahul Vilas Gokhale, Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command; Rear Admiral Ajay D. Theophilus, Flag Officer Commanding Goa Naval Area and Flag Officer Naval Aviation; and former Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, along with veterans and distinguished guests.
The MH-60R helicopter is an all-weather, day-and-night capable platform designed to undertake a wide range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuation and vertical replenishment. The induction of INAS 335 is expected to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s aviation and operational capabilities along the western seaboard.
