The INAS 333 is an
Indian naval air squadron based at
INS Dega
INS ''Dega'' , is a naval air station of the Indian Navy. It is located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on the east coast of India.
History
The Indian Navy initially started aviation operations in Visakhapatnam in the late 1970s, with the ...
,
Visakhapatnam
, image_alt =
, image_caption = From top, left to right: Visakhapatnam aerial view, Vizag seaport, Simhachalam Temple, Aerial view of Rushikonda Beach, Beach road, Novotel, Novotel Visakhapatnam, INS Kursura (S20), INS ...
.
History
INAS 333 was commissioned at
Goa
Goa () is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is located between the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the ...
on 11 December 1980 by V Adm O P Dawson. The squadron crest depicts an Eagle gripping a torpedo in its talons against a background of two crossed rotors. INAS 333 was commissioned with the
Kamov Ka-25
The Kamov Ka-25 (NATO reporting name "Hormone") is a naval helicopter, developed for the Soviet Navy in the USSR from 1958.
Design and development
In the late 1950s there was an urgent demand for anti-submarine helicopters for deployment on n ...
helicopter and is a dedicated ASW helicopter squadron. The
Kamov Ka-28 helicopters were inducted into the Squadron in 1989. Kamov helicopters are designed to operate from the decks of
Kashin class destroyers and the carrier. INAS 333 was shifted to
INS Dega
INS ''Dega'' , is a naval air station of the Indian Navy. It is located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on the east coast of India.
History
The Indian Navy initially started aviation operations in Visakhapatnam in the late 1970s, with the ...
,
Visakhapatnam
, image_alt =
, image_caption = From top, left to right: Visakhapatnam aerial view, Vizag seaport, Simhachalam Temple, Aerial view of Rushikonda Beach, Beach road, Novotel, Novotel Visakhapatnam, INS Kursura (S20), INS ...
in the year 2000 along with the Kamov Ka-25s and has been operating from there ever since. The Ka-25s which were with the squadron since its inception were decommissioned from service in April 2009. The Ka-28 helicopters were rebased at INAS 333 from INAS 339 on 19 May 2009 and form the complement of the squadron.
With a sensor package of sonar, radar, sonobuoys and a weapon load consisting of ASW torpedoes and depth charges, the Kamov ka-28 is a major threat to enemy submarines. This highly capable aircraft is flown by a single pilot and operates from the decks of the latter two Kashin Class Destroyers. The squadron is also responsible for training the aircrew for operating the Ka-28 helicopters.
References
{{Indian Navy
Aircraft squadrons of the Indian Navy
Naval units and formations of India