On the same day that the Indian Air Force's Squadron No. 4 decommissioned its old Mig-21s, the Navy also said goodbye to its Ilyushin-38 Sea Dragon long-range maritime patrol aircraft, which had served the country honourably for 46 years.

The decommissioning ceremony was held on Tuesday at INS Hansa, Dabolim attended by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, dignitaries and veteran officers, and sailors of the IL-38 squadron along with their families.

“The ILs were flying till the very last day, culminating nearly 52,000 hours of flying! A remarkable feat indeed, which aptly sums up the exacting standards that Team 315 (INAS 315) had set for itself,” Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar said at the decommissioning ceremony at Dabolim.

According to a Navy official, INAS 315 was put into service on October 1, 1977, which marked the beginning of a new era for airborne long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare in the Navy with the arrival of IL-38 aircraft.

“With its unique capabilities, striking prowess and extended reach covering the vast Indian Ocean region, the IL-38 SD has over the years proven itself to be a formidable force-multiplier,” the spokesperson acknowledged the contribution of the aerial platform.

In its unwavering quest to safeguard the country's maritime borders, the formidable "Winged Stallion" that graces the squadron crest has been living up to the motto, "Victory is my Profession," by maintaining a vigilant watch above and beneath the waves.

In her last legs, the aircraft enabled ‘Aatmanirbhar’ capability enhancement through the successful integration of indigenous, Sahayak Air Droppable Containers, which provide critical logistics support to units deployed at sea, and a trial platform for indigenous torpedoes, the spokesperson stated.

The reconnaissance aircraft that was modified later with the integration of the Sea-Dragon suit, has over the years, proven itself to be a formidable force multiplier.

“While flying will come to an end, two of IL-38 aircraft will remain stationed permanently, one at National Maritime Heritage Museum at Lothal and the other at Nipani in Karnataka,” Admiral Hari Kumar said.

Image source: Indian Navy