INS Rajali
Encyclopedia
INS Rajali, also informally known as Arakkonam Naval Air Station, is an Indian
naval air station
located near Arakkonam
in Tamil Nadu
in southern India
. It has the longest military runway in Asia.
. The first recorded air operations from the field took place when the No. 2 Squadron of the Royal Indian Air Force, flying Westland Lysander
aircraft flew support missions for the British Indian Army between May and Sep 1942.
The airfield was abandoned at the end of the war, while the Indian Air Force moved its operations to Tambaram, 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) south of Chennai
, where its Flying Instructor's School and an An-32 transport squadron are based.
In March 1988, the Super Constellation aircraft of the INAS 312 squadron were phased out and replaced with Tupolev Tu-142
MK-E (Bear F) aircraft, and the squadron transitioned to anti-submarine operations. The larger aircraft were hampered by the congestion at the squadon's home base of INS Hansa
in Goa
, which already based Sea Harrier, HJT-16 Kiran, Il-38, HAL Chetak and Ka-28 squadrons. The air field at Arakkonam was hence transferred to the Navy, rehabilitated and commissioned as INS Rajali on 11 March 1992.
INS Rajali now spans 2320 acres (938.9 ha) and has the longest military runway in Asia.
, anti-submarine
and anti-surface warfare
.
INS Rajali is also home to the navy's Helicopter Training School.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
naval air station
Naval Air Station
A Naval Air Station is a military airbase, and consists of a permanent land-based operations locations for the military aviation division of the relevant branch of their Navy...
located near Arakkonam
Arakkonam
Arakkonam is a mid-sized City in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with a population of about 101,626 as per the census 2011...
in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
in southern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It has the longest military runway in Asia.
History
The airfield at Arakkonam was constructed in early 1942, for use by Allies of World War IIAllies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
. The first recorded air operations from the field took place when the No. 2 Squadron of the Royal Indian Air Force, flying Westland Lysander
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
aircraft flew support missions for the British Indian Army between May and Sep 1942.
The airfield was abandoned at the end of the war, while the Indian Air Force moved its operations to Tambaram, 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) south of Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, where its Flying Instructor's School and an An-32 transport squadron are based.
In March 1988, the Super Constellation aircraft of the INAS 312 squadron were phased out and replaced with Tupolev Tu-142
Tupolev Tu-142
The Tupolev Tu-142 is a maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft derived from the Tu-95 turboprop strategic bomber. A specialised communications variant designated Tu-142MR was tasked with long-range communications duties with Soviet ballistic missile submarines...
MK-E (Bear F) aircraft, and the squadron transitioned to anti-submarine operations. The larger aircraft were hampered by the congestion at the squadon's home base of INS Hansa
INS Hansa
INS Hansa, is an Indian naval air station located near Dabolim in Goa, India. It is the only military air base in India with a civilian enclave, that operates as the Dabolim Airport.-History:...
in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, which already based Sea Harrier, HJT-16 Kiran, Il-38, HAL Chetak and Ka-28 squadrons. The air field at Arakkonam was hence transferred to the Navy, rehabilitated and commissioned as INS Rajali on 11 March 1992.
INS Rajali now spans 2320 acres (938.9 ha) and has the longest military runway in Asia.
Units
As of 2010, INS Rajali is home to the navy's INAS 312 squadron which operates eight Tu-142MK-E aircraft. The aircraft are equipped for maritime patrolMaritime patrol
Maritime patrol is the task of monitoring areas of water. Generally conducted by military and law enforcement agencies, maritime patrol is usually aimed at identifying human activities....
, anti-submarine
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
and anti-surface warfare
Anti-Surface Warfare
Anti-surface warfare is a type of naval warfare directed against surface combatants. More generally, it is any weapons, sensors, or operations intended to attack or limit the effectiveness of an adversary's surface ships....
.
INS Rajali is also home to the navy's Helicopter Training School.