Naval Aviation

Naval Aviation

Subject – Security

Context – High honour for Naval Aviation.

Concept –

• Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases.
• Naval Aviation came into being with acquisition of the first Sea land aircraft on January 13, 1951 and the commissioning of INS Garuda, the first Naval Air Station, on May 11, 1953.
• Today, Naval Aviation boasts of nine air stations and three naval air enclaves along the Indian coastline and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The arrival of the armed Firefly aircraft in 1958 added an offensive punch and 1959 saw the commissioning of the Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 550, with 10 Sea land, 10 Firefly and three HT-2 aircraft.
• Over the years, a variety of rotary wing platforms have been added as well. Maritime reconnaissance also grew steadily, beginning with the induction of the Super-Constellation from the Indian Air Force in 1976 to the state-of-the-art Boeing P 8I aircraft in 2013.
• The Navy heralded the beginning of carrier aviation with the induction of INS Vikrant in 1957 and integral Sea Hawk and Alize Squadrons INS Vikrant with its aircraft played a crucial role in the liberation of Goa in 1961 and again in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, where its presence on the Eastern seaboard proved decisive.
• The Navy inducted its second carrier INS Viraat along with Sea Harrier aircraft in the mid-1980s and Naval Aviation was further strengthened with the arrival of MiG 29K fighters on INS Vikramaditya in the last decade.
• Naval Aviation has played a major role in operations such as Cactus, Jupiter, Shield, Vijay and Parakram as well as spearheaded Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations on numerous occasions both in India and the extended neighbourhood.
• Naval Aviators have been decorated with one Mahavir Chakra, six Vir Chakras, one Kirti Chakra, seven Shaurya Chakras, one Yudh Seva Medal and a large number of Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) over the years.

The President’s Colour 

• The President’s Colour is the highest honour bestowed on a military unit in recognition of its exceptional service to the nation.
• The Navy was the first among the armed forces to be awarded the President’s Colour on May 27, 1951 by then President Rajendra Prasad.