Country India Garrison/HQ INS Hansa, Goa Patrol Ilyushin Il-38 | Branch Indian Navy Nickname(s) The Winged Stallions | |
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Active 1 October 1977 - present | ||
The INAS 315 is an Indian naval air squadron based at INS Hansa, Goa.
History
INAS 315 was commissioned on 1 October 1977 by R Adm M K Roy. Cdr B K Malik was the first Squadron Commander. The squadron was initially equipped with three Ilyushin 38 aircraft and later two more IL 38 aircraft were inducted. With the induction of the IL 38s, the Navy acquired modern maritime reconnaissance and fixed-wing Anti Submarine Warfare(ASW) capability. In January 1978, the squadron aircraft using the on board Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) equipment successfully located the wreckage of the ill-fated Air India Jumbo which had crashed soon after take-off off the Mumbai coast. The Winged Stallions added yet another feather to their cap when they completed 25000 hours of accident free flying in 1996. With the Mid Life Update of the IL 38 SD (Sea Dragon) being completed in 2009 the Winged Stallions are set to gallop their way to further glory in the coming years.