The Indian Navy will commission the P-8I aircraft on Tuesday (March 29), bolstering India's maritime defence. This will be the country's second long-range maritime reconnaissance air squadron, which will patrol the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) in the face of Chinese aggression.
In the presence of Chief of Naval Staff R Hari Kumar, the air squadron 316 would be commissioned at the INS Hansa naval air station in Dabolim, Goa, navy officials said.
Because to China's rising intervention in the Indian Ocean Rim, the Indian Navy Air Squadron (INAS) 316 will fly the Boeing P-8I multi-role long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
The P-8I is a long-range surveillance plane with air-to-ship missiles and torpedoes on board. The Indian Navy has given its INAS 316 the moniker 'The Condors,' after one of the world's largest flying birds. In 2013, the Navy acquired the first eight P-8I aircraft and stationed them at INS Rajali in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu.
"The INAS 316 will operate the second batch of four additional P-8I aircraft, adding teeth to the Indian Navy's armour in the Indian Ocean Region to prevent, detect, and eliminate any danger to the nation," an official said.
Five Indian Navy sailing vessels visit Sri Lanka to bolster ocean sailing
President confers 'Best State' award to UP at third national water awards
