Goa: INAS 335, known as ‘The Ospreys’, the Indian Navy’s second air squadron equipped with MH-60R helicopters, was formally commissioned at INS Hansa in Goa on Wednesday. The ceremony was led by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and marked a major milestone in strengthening naval aviation capabilities.
The MH-60R helicopter is a multi-role, all-weather platform capable of operating both day and night. It is designed to undertake missions such as anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and vertical replenishment. The induction of these helicopters is expected to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s aviation and operational reach along the western seaboard.
The induction of INAS 335 comes after the commissioning of the Navy’s first MH-60R squadron at Kochi, Kerala, in March 2024. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, was present at the event, according to an official release.
During the ceremony, the Commissioning Warrant of the squadron was read out by Captain Dhirender Bisht, the unit’s Commanding Officer. The Commissioning Plaque was unveiled by Mrs Laila Swaminathan, President of the NWWA Western Region. A traditional water cannon salute was accorded to commemorate the occasion.
Senior naval leadership, 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 (Retd), attended the commissioning along with veterans and guests.
