Indian Navy Commissions INAS 335 MH-60R Unit

INAS 335, the Indian Navy’s second squadron equipped with MH-60R helicopters, was commissioned at INS Hansa in Goa on December 17. The ceremony was presided over by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi and followed the commissioning of the first MH-60R squadron at Kochi in March 2024.

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, was present at the event. The Commissioning Warrant was read out by Captain Dhirender Bisht, Commanding Officer of INAS 335, followed by the unveiling of the commissioning plaque by Mrs. Laila Swaminathan, President of the NWWA Western Region. The ceremony concluded with a traditional water cannon salute.

The event was attended by senior naval officers, including Vice Admiral Rahul Vilas Gokhale, Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ajay D. Theophilus, Flag Officer Commanding Goa Naval Area and Flag Officer Naval Aviation, as well as Admiral Karambir Singh (Retd), former Chief of the Naval Staff.

Addressing the gathering, Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi said, “I am delighted to be here today, at the home base of Indian Naval Aviation, INS Hansa, for the commissioning of INAS 335, the ‘Ospreys’.” He added that “the induction of the versatile, multi-role MH60R helicopter on the Western Seaboard, as the first operational squadron, marks an important milestone for our Navy.”

Referring to the wider strategic context, the naval chief said, “The maritime environment around us, today, is more complex and contested than ever before,” adding that strengthening maritime security was essential for safeguarding sea lines of communication.

Admiral Tripathi noted that the MH-60R helicopters had already been employed during recent exercises and operations. “While the 335 Squadron is being formally commissioned today here at Goa, the MH-60R helicopter has already proven its prowess across multiple missions,” he said. He added that the squadron was “fully operational state, ready to deploy with the Fleet from Day One.”

The MH-60R helicopters are designed for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and vertical replenishment missions. The aircraft are intended to support shipborne aviation operations on India’s western seaboard.