Indian Navy bids farewell to reconnaissance IL 38 SD aircraft

Ilyushin-38 Sea Dragon Long Range Maritime Patrol aircraft of the Indian Navy departed the country after 46 illustrious years of service.

At INS Hansa, Dabolim, on October 31, there was a decommissioning ceremony. Aside from dignitaries, the Chief of Naval Staff, families attended the occasion and shared memories of their yeoman service with veteran commanders and sailors of the IL-38 unit.

The Navy entered a new phase of airborne Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Warfare on October 1, 1977, when IL-38 aircraft were introduced and INAS 315 was put into service.

Over the years, the IL-38 SD has demonstrated its exceptional force multiplier capabilities with its striking prowess, long reach, and unique capabilities that span the broad Indian Ocean region. The formidable “Winged Stallion” that graces the squadron crest has been honoring the slogan of the unit, “Victory is my Profession,” by keeping a vigilant watch over and beneath the waves as it relentlessly seeks to safeguard the country’s maritime borders.

With the IL-38 SD De-induction ceremony, a golden period that brought about ground-breaking capabilities in Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Warfare missions comes to an end. The historical significance of the IL-38 SD’s operational role as “Eyes in the Sky” in an ever-changing and dynamic Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and its invaluable contribution to several mission-critical deployments will live on forever in the history of Indian Naval Aviation.