The Indian Navy has commissioned its first Naval Air Squadron on the Eastern seaboard operating the indigenously designed and built Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK III (MR) helicopters.
Indian Naval Air Squadron 324 was commissioned into the Indian Navy at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam.
Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, said that commissioning the first ALH MK III Squadron on the Eastern Naval Command would enhance the navy’s surveillance capability on the Eastern seaboard.
INAS 324 will undertake Maritime Reconnaissance (MR) and Search, and Rescue (SAR) missions off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
The Hindustan Aeronautics-built ALH MK III MR helicopters are fitted with modern surveillance radar and electro-optical sensors. In addition to their primarily roles of MR and SAR, they can also be deployed for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief(HADR) operations and Special Operations with Marine Commandos. The helicopter can also carry an airborne Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) to facilitate the medical evacuation of critically ill patients in the air ambulance role.