Article Posted on : - May 05, 2016

An Indian Navy photo.

PANAJI (PTI): The Indian Navy will de-induct its ageing Sea Harriers, replacing them with MiG 29K fighter aircraft, on May 11 at INS Hansa base in Vasco at Goa.

"With the scheduled decommissioning of INS Viraat and great difficulty in maintenance of the ageing Sea Harrier fighters, they are scheduled to be de-inducted on May 11, 2016. The squadron will be operating the advanced MiG 29K fighters," the Navy said in a statement here on Tuesday.

Admiral R K Dhowan, Chief of the Naval Staff will be the Chief Guest for the ceremony.

The Sea Harriers were inducted in the Indian Navy following phasing out of then obsolete Seahawks.

"In November 1979, post government approval, Naval HQ placed an order for 06 Sea Harrier FRS Mk 51 fighters and 02 T Mk 60 Trainers, for delivery in 1983," a naval spokesman said.

"In September 1980, Sea Harrier Project (SHARP) was formed with select naval aviators and technical personnel for coordination of trials, testing, acceptance and training.

The first newly-built Sea Harrier for the Indian Navy (IN 601) was ready on December 21, 1982.

The first three Sea Harriers flying via Malta, Luxor and Dubai, led by Lt Cdr Arun Prakash VrC, landed at Dabolim on December 16, 1983. This was followed by first deck landing on the carrier, INS Vikrant, on December 20, 1983 and the arrival of the first Sea Harrier T Mk 60 trainer, on March 29, 1984," the spokesman said.

He said the reborn white tigers of the Indian Navy were now a totally professional outfit and came out with flying colours during frequent embarkations, joint exercises, Dissimilar Aircraft Combat Training and Air to Air gunnery exercises.

"The squadron was embarked on the carrier during Operations Vijay and Parakram providing the essential offensive posture to the country and ensuring readiness to react to any escalation by the enemy," he said.

"In last few years the Harriers have added a new dimension to their operations with the increased multi national exercises in which the Indian Navy participates," the spokesman stated.

"These exercises have seen the Harriers facing eye-to-eye with the best in the business. The magnificent carriers and the flying machines of the American, French and British Navies have come, exercised and gone back suitably impressed.

"Always operating with modest equipment and resources, yet coming out with extraordinary results, the white tigers have built an enviable reputation for themselves and continue to remain at the forefront of Indian Naval Aviation," he said.

"The Sea Harriers had undergone a weapon and avionics upgrade since 2007 to match up with any opposition. The upgraded Sea Harrier christened LUSH (Limited Upgrade Sea Harrier) was a shot in the arm for the Indian Naval aviation," the naval spokesman stated.

"The Sea Harriers, in their 'new avatar', were a formidable force to reckon with. LUSH aircraft, with their new inventory of armament were ever ready for the present day Beyond Visual Range environment in which modern aircraft operate," he claimed.

"Post limited upgrade in which the aircraft was fitted with a new Multimode Radar, Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile and a Datalink, the Sea Harrier fleet had redeemed itself as the best carrier borne 'air defence fighter/interceptor' in the Indian Ocean Region.

"The flexibility offered by the aircraft's capability to undertake short/vertical takeoffs and landings had enabled it to operate from any fixed wing carrier and had regularly conducted cross deck landings on ships of foreign navies," the Navy said.