Indian Navy’s ‘strategically important’ air enclave inaugurated in Santacruz, Mumbai
The newly inaugurated Air Enclave in Santacruz. Picture Courtesy: Indian Navy
Vice Admiral Girish Luthra inaugurated the Indian Naval Air Enclave, a facility of extreme strategic importance, in Santacruz in Mumbai on Wednesday.
In his address, Mr. Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, said it was a significant development from the point of view of naval operations and complimented the efforts of everyone involved.
The NAE comprises a huge hangar for aircraft and a large dispersal area on the land owned by the Indian Navy adjoining the airport’s runway and taxi track.
Mr Luthra also said that the city of Mumbai and Indian Navy have had long standing relations which were not restricted to the Dockyard or harbour areas.
“This gives a major boost to surveillance and offensive measures in areas of interest in the Western Seaboard. Decades ago, naval helicopters and Super Constellation surveillance aircraft operated from this airport,” Vice Admiral Luthra said.
The NAE will enable the navy to stage through all types of fixed-wing aircraft owned by it, including highly-potent and versatile Boeing P8I Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance (LRMR) planes.
Presently, the P8I LRMR aircraft are operated from their base at Arakkonam near Chennai, but with the operationalisation of the NAE, they will be operated from Mumbai. This will enable longer sorties in the Arabian Sea and covering of vast areas.
The Indian Navy’s air arm started as a fledgling unit in 1953 and has now grown into a strong force, muscled with 10 Naval Air Squadrons, comprising different types of fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
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Naval Air Enclave inaugurated at Santa Cruz Mumbai. Gives fillip 2 IN’s capability 2operate fixed wing aircraft incl P8 I @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/6naOwleilq
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) February 1, 2017
