Indian Navy’s Air Arm earns President’s Colour

• President Ram Nath Kovind awarded the President’s Colour to the Indian Naval Aviation at a ceremonial parade held at the INS Hansa base near Panaji in Goa.
• On the occasion, the President was given the guard of honour by the Indian Navy.
• The President’s Colour is bestowed on a military unit, in recognition of exceptional service rendered to the Nation, both in peace and in war.

Past recipients of President’s colour in Navy

• The President’s Colour is the highest honour bestowed on a military unit in recognition of its exceptional service to the nation.
• Indian Navy was the first amongst the Indian Armed Forces to be awarded the President’s Colour on 27 May 1951.
• Some other recipients of the President’s Colour in the Navy encompass Southern Naval Command, Eastern Naval Command, Western Naval Command, Eastern Fleet, Western Fleet, Submarine Arm, INS Shivaji and the Indian Naval Academy.

Indian Naval Aviation

• Indian Naval Aviation came into existence with the acquisition of the first Sealand aircraft on 13 Jan 1951.
• INS Garuda is the first Naval Air Station that was commissioned on 11 May 1953.
• Further, Naval aviation steadily expanded its inventory to become an integral part of a formidable Navy with the arrival of the armed Firefly aircraft in 1958.
• The year 1959 saw the commissioning of Indian Naval Air Squadron 550 with 10 Sealand, 10 Firefly and 3 HT-2 aircraft.
• Ranging from the Alouette to the Advanced Light Helicopter, a variety of rotary-wing platforms have been added to Indian Naval Aviation.

Courageous operations conducted by Naval Aviation

• Indian Naval Aviation boasts of nine air stations and three naval air enclaves along the Indian coastline.
• It has transformed into a modern, technologically advanced and highly potent force with more than 250 aircraft comprising carrier-borne fighters, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, helicopters and remotely piloted aircraft.
• Naval aviation has distinguished itself during operations such as Operation Cactus, Operation Jupiter, Operation Shield, Operation Vijay and Operation Parakram.
• It has also spearheaded HADR operations on behalf of the Indian Navy, providing relief to numerous Indian ocean region nations.