| INAS 342 | |
|---|---|
| Active | 6 January 2006 - Present |
| Country |  India |
| Branch |  Indian Navy |
| Garrison/HQ | INS Garuda, Kochi |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Reconnaissance | IAI Heron |
INAS 342 is an Indian Naval air squadron, operating unmanned aerial vehicles, based at INS Garuda, Kochi. The squadron was raised in 2006 and operates IAI Heron. [1] [2]
IAI Heron and Searcher Mark II, were acquired from IAI Malat by the Indian Navy in December 2002. The UAVs would serve for the roles of maritime reconnaissance, search & rescue, battle damage assessment and providing OTOHT data.
Earlier in 2002, 16 internal pilots, 11 observers, 8 external pilots, 6 technical officers and 75 technical and non-technical sailors underwent training at IAI Malat. On 31 August 2002, the Intensive Flying and Trials Unit (IFTU) was established at INS Garuda and was tasked with the roles of aircraft acceptance, operator & crew training, evaluation & trials of aircraft and sensors, doctrine formulation, establishing operating & maintenance procedures.
In January 2003, Flight Training commenced and eventually the OEM personnel withdrew as the unit personnel took over. Routine and training flying finally was followed by operational exploitation and the unit started regularly participating in exercises off both coasts, from ships and from various military and non-military airfields.
The OJT cell was appointed to train the technical officers and sailors of following generations of operators and maintainers.
On 6 January 2006, IFTU was formally commissioned as an operational squadron, INAS 342. The first Officer-in-Charge was Commander Rajesh Kawatra. On this day, INAS 342 evolved into a fully functional squadron and pioneered a new era in aviation. [1] [3] [4]
The INAS 342 originally operated six Israeli-built IAI Herons and six Searcher Mark IIs UAVs. [5]
On 11 December 2024, the Indian Navy de-inducted 8 Searcher Mk-II UAVs from INAS 342 and INAS 343 after 22 years of service after a ceremony in Kochi. [6] [7]
The IAI Heron (Machatz-1) is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the Malat (UAV) division of Israel Aerospace Industries. It is capable of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) operations of up to 52 hours' duration at up to 10.5 km (35,000 ft). It has demonstrated 52 hours of continuous flight, but the effective operational maximal flight duration is less, according to payload and flight profile. An advanced version, the Heron TP, is also known as the IAI Eitan.
The Indian Naval Air Arm is the aviation branch and a fighting arm of the Indian Navy which is tasked to provide an aircraft carrier-based strike capability, fleet air defence, maritime reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare.
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The IAI Searcher is a reconnaissance UAV developed in Israel in the 1980s. In the following decade, it replaced the IMI Mastiff and IAI Scout UAVs then in service with the Israeli Army.
The IAI Eitan is an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft developed in Israel in the early 21st century by the Malat division of Israel Aerospace Industries. The aircraft is a newer version of the IAI Heron. Along with intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTR), Israeli IAI Eitan also capable of holding armed roles. There are conflicting reports on whether the exported Eitan's are unarmed or armed.
INS Garuda, is an Indian naval air station located in Kochi, in the state of Kerala. Commissioned on 11 May 1953, it is the oldest operating air station of the Indian Navy.
INS Shikra, formerly known as INS Kunjali, is an Indian naval air station located at Colaba in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is a heliport.
INAS 343 is an aviation squadron of the Indian Navy, operating Drishti-10 Starliner UAVs based at Porbandar. It is the second squadron in the navy dedicated to operating UAVs after INAS 342 at Kochi. The squadron was raised in 2011 with 2 IAI Heron and IAI Searcher Mk-II each. The squadron is tasked with patrolling Northern Arabian Sea.
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The INAS 303 is an Indian naval air squadron based at INS Hansa.
The INAS 322 is an Indian naval air squadron based at INS Garuda, Kochi.
The INAS 330 is an Indian naval air squadron based at INS Shikra, Mumbai.
The INAS 336 is an Indian naval air squadron based at INS Garuda, Kochi.
The INAS 344 is an Indian naval air squadron based at INS Parundu, Tamil Nadu. The squadron was established on 11 April 2012 and operates IAI Heron.
The INAS 550 is an Indian naval air squadron based at INS Venduruthy, Kochi.
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The INAS 334 is a helicopter squadron of the Indian Navy operating Sikorsky MH-60R SeaHawk helicopters since 6 March 2024. The squadron is based at INS Garuda in Kochi and is expected to have fleet deployments onboard the Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant.
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