The INAS 318 is an Indian naval air squadron based at

INS Utkrosh INS Utkrosh , is an Indian naval air station under the joint-services Andaman and Nicobar Command of the Indian Armed Forces. It is located near naval base INS Jarawa, on Port Blair in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. It shares airside facilitie ...

Port Blair Port Blair () is the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India in the Bay of Bengal. It is also the local administrative sub-division (''tehsil'') of the islands, the headquarters for the district of South An ...

History

INAS 318 was commissioned on 10 March 1984. Lt Cdr J S Dhillon was the first Squadron Commander. The squadron was initially equipped with Islander aircraft which have been replaced by Dorniers subsequently. The squadron is based at

. The squadron's primary task is maritime reconnaissance and patrol. The squadron has been doing a laudable job of maintaining vigil around the far-flung outposts of the Andamans and has participated in many anti poaching and anti smuggling operations. The squadron contributes in great measure to the Navy's policy of ‘Look East’ and with the formation of the new integrated command at Port Blair these aircraft are important assets in order to keep the pirate infested

Malacca Straits The Strait of Malacca is a narrow stretch of water, 500 mi (800 km) long and from 40 to 155 mi (65–250 km) wide, between the Malay Peninsula (Peninsular Malaysia) to the northeast and the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the southwest, connec ...

under constant surveillance.

References

Aircraft squadrons of the Indian Navy Naval units and formations of India {{India-mil-stub