| INAS 551 | |
|---|---|
| Active | 5 September 1961 - present [1] |
| Country |  India |
| Branch |  Indian Navy |
| Garrison/HQ | INS Dega, Visakhapatnam [2] |
| Nickname(s) | The Phantoms |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Trainer |
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The INAS 551 is an Indian naval air squadron based at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam. [1]
In its early form the squadron existed as the Naval Jet Flight (NJF) at Sulur, which was set up in September 1957 and was equipped with four Vampire aircraft. The first Flight Commander was Lt Cdr BD Law. In June 1959 the Naval Jet Flight was reconstituted as INAS 550 A. The third Flt Cdr of the NJF, Lt Raj Anderson became the first Squadron Commander of INAS 550 A, redesignated and commissioned as INAS 551 on 5 September 1961. A year later Sea Hawks from INAS 300 were also inducted into the squadron. The role of the squadron was to train pilots towards tactical flying and air combat on the Vampire. Before the pilots left for INAS 300, they were converted on Sea Hawks. The squadron was, thus, a feeder squadron for fighter pilots into naval aviation. The squadron inducted Kiran Mk I in 1970 and commenced fighter training on these aircraft. An advanced version of the Kiran, the Kiran Mk II was inducted in 1986.
In 1990, the Sea Harrier Operational Flying Training Unit was set up and INAS 551 was bifurcated into two flights. INAS 551 A operated the Kirans and INAS 551 B operated the Sea Harriers, undertaking conversion onto the aircraft for pilots joining INAS 300. In May 2003, the squadron added another feather to its cap, when it set up a naval aerobatic team, the Sagar Pawan, operating Kiran Mk II jets. The Indian Navy, thus, became only the second navy in the world after the US Navy to have an active fixed wing aerobatic team.[ citation needed ] The squadron conducts Naval Orientation Courses for pilots before they progress onto the Sea Harrier and the MiG-29K aircraft. Pre Qualified Flying Instructor Course training is also conducted for Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard pilots. The squadron continues to fulfill its role of training naval fighter pilots till date. [4]
The BAE Systems Hawk advanced jet trainer was inducted into INAS 551 at INS Dega on 6 November 2013 by then Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi. [5] By 2015, 11 were received and more 6 were on order. [6]
As of 2024, INAS 551 is a pure shore-based training squadron. Fighter pilots initially join this squadron for Naval Orientation Flying before being selected for undergoing conversion training for Mikoyan MiG-29K s at INAS 300. Later the pilots are qualified for operational service with MiG-29Ks with INAS 303. [7]
The British Aerospace Sea Harrier is a naval short take-off and vertical landing/vertical take-off and landing jet fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft. It is the second member of the Harrier family developed. It first entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980 as the Sea Harrier FRS1 and became informally known as the "Shar". Unusual in an era in which most naval and land-based air superiority fighters were large and supersonic, the principal role of the subsonic Sea Harrier was to provide air defence for Royal Navy task groups centred around the aircraft carriers.
The HAL HJT-16 Kiran is an Indian two-seat intermediate jet-powered trainer aircraft designed and manufactured by aircraft company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
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.
Sagar Pawan was an aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Navy's aviation arm. The team was formed as a part of squadron 551 in 2003. While in operation, it was one of the only two naval aerobatic teams in the world along with the Blue Angels of the US Navy.
Admiral Arun Prakash, PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM is a former Flag Officer of the Indian Navy. He served as the Chief of the Naval Staff from 31 July 2004 to 31 October 2006 and as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee from 31 January 2005 to 31 October 2006. He is one of India's most decorated naval officers.
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.
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 and IAI Searcher Mk II.
INS Hansa, is an Indian naval air station located near Dabolim in Goa, India. It is India's biggest naval airbase. The military air base has a civil enclave, that operates as Dabolim Airport.
INS Dega, is a naval air station of the Indian Navy. It is located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on the east coast of India.
The INAS 300 is the longest serving combat unit of the Indian Navy, based at INS Hansa.
The INAS 303 is an Indian naval air squadron based at INS Hansa.
The INAS 333 is an Indian naval air squadron based at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam.
The INAS 550 is an Indian naval air squadron based at INS Venduruthy, Kochi.
Bidar Air Force Station,, is a second largest flight training center in India. It is established by the Indian Air Force and It was founded during World War II and has been a training center for Indian Air Force pilots since 1963. Trainer aircraft like the HAL HT-2 and variants of HAL HJT-16 Kiran have been used at the airbase for nearly four decades. In 2011, the station was remodeled and refurbished, with the runway extended to 9000 feet and new facilities for aircraft engine maintenance and testing added.
Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh, PVSM, AVSM, NM is a former flag officer in the Indian Navy. He last served as the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. He assumed office from Vice Admiral Murlidhar Sadashiv Pawar on 1 June 2021 following his retirement. Previously, he served as the Chief of Personnel (COP) and as the Director General Project Seabird. He has also served as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet from October 2015 to October 2016.
Vice Admiral Kankipati Appala Satyanarayana Zagapathi 'KASZ' Raju, PVSM, AVSM, NM is a former Flag officer in the Indian Navy. He last served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, from 1992 to 1994. A naval aviator, he was part of the Navy's first naval air squadron INAS 300 and was embarked on the Navy's first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, he was the executive officer of the Leopard-class frigate INS Brahmaputra (1957), for which he was awarded the Nao Sena Medal. He later commanded the Western Fleet and the Southern Naval Command.
Rear Admiral Philipose George Pynumootil, AVSM, NM is a former flag officer of the Indian Navy. He last served as the Flag Officer Naval Aviation and Flag officer Goa Naval Area. He previously served as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air) at Naval headquarters. He superannuated on 30 April 2022.
Rear Admiral Vikram Menon, VSM is a serving flag officer of the Indian Navy. He currently serves as the Joint Secretary at the Department of Military Affairs. He previously served as the Flag Officer Naval Aviation (FONA) and Flag Officer Goa Naval Area (FOGA), and as the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Air) at Naval headquarters.
Rear Admiral Ajay Daniel Theophilus is a serving flag officer of the Indian Navy. He currently serves as the Flag Officer Naval Aviation (FONA) and Flag Officer Goa Naval Area (FOGA). He previously served as the Deputy Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy (INA). He earlier served as the Commanding Officer of INS Hansa and was the commissioning commanding officer of the first Mikoyan MiG-29K naval air squadron INAS 303.
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