INS Rajali: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 13°04′16″N 079°41′28″E / 13.07111°N 79.69111°E / 13.07111; 79.69111
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{{short description|Naval air station in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox airport
{{Infobox airport
| name = INS Rajali
| name = INS Rajali
| nativename =
| nativename =
| image = IAF Tu-142 and Il-38.jpg
| image =
| image-width =
| image-width =
| caption =
| caption = Indian Navy [[Tu-142]]s are based at INS Rajali. An example is seen here with an [[Ilyushin Il-38|Il-38]]SD at [[INS Hansa]]
| IATA = ARK
| IATA =
| ICAO = VOAR
| ICAO = VOAR
| type = [[Naval Air Station]]
| type = [[Naval Air Station]]
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| operator = [[Indian Navy]]
| operator = [[Indian Navy]]
| city-served =
| city-served =
| location = [[Arakkonam]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| location = [[Arakkonam]], [[Ranipet district]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| elevation-f = 265
| elevation-f = 285
| elevation-m = 81
| elevation-m =
| coordinates = {{Coord|13|04|16|N|079|41|28|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|13|04|16|N|079|41|28|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| website =
| website =
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}}
}}


'''INS Rajali''', also informally known as '''Arakkonam Naval Air Station''', {{Airport codes|ARK|VOAR}} is an [[India]]n [[naval air station]] located near [[Arakkonam]] in [[Tamil Nadu]] in southern [[India]]. It operates under the [[Eastern Naval Command]] of the Indian Navy,<ref>{{cite web|title=Eastern Naval Command Authorities & Units|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/about-indian-navy/enc-authorities-units|publisher=Indian Navy|accessdate=5 April 2014}}</ref> and has the longest military runway in [[Asia]].<ref name=wad-voar>{{WAD|VOAR}}</ref>
'''INS Rajali''', {{Airport codes|N/A|VOAR}} is an Indian [[naval air station]] located near [[Arakkonam]], [[Ranipet district]], [[Tamil Nadu]] in southern [[India]]. It operates under the [[Southern Naval Command]] of the Indian Navy,<ref>{{cite web|title=Eastern Naval Command Authorities & Units|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/about-indian-navy/enc-authorities-units|publisher=Indian Navy|access-date=5 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822140334/http://indiannavy.nic.in/about-indian-navy/enc-authorities-units|archive-date=22 August 2013}}</ref> and has the longest military runway in [[Asia]].<ref name=wad-voar>{{cite web|url-status=usurped|url=http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?airport=VOAR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305143444/http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?airport=VOAR|archive-date=2019-03-05|title=Airport information for VOAR|website=World Aero Data}} Data current as of October 2006.</ref>


==History==
==History==
The airfield at Arakkonam was constructed in early 1942, for use by [[Allies of World War II]]. 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 at '''Arakkonam''' was constructed in early 1942, for use by [[Allies of World War II]]. 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 after the war and lay unused until the 1980s, when it was transferred to the Indian Navy who rehabilitated and commissioned the airfield as ''INS Rajali''.INS Rajali was commissioned on 11 March 1992. The commissioning Commanding Officer was Captain RS Vasan who subsequently retired in the rank of Commodore while on deputation to the Coast Guard as the Regional
The airfield was abandoned after the war and lay unused until the 1980s, when it was transferred to the Indian Navy who rehabilitated and commissioned the airfield as ''INS Rajali''. INS Rajali was commissioned on 11 March 1992. The commissioning commanding officer was Captain RS Vasan, who subsequently retired in the rank of commodore while on deputation to the Coast Guard as the Regional
Commander of Coast Guard Region East . Rajali named after a bird was commissioned by then President Sri Venkataraman. The upgraded airbase became home to an [[anti-submarine warfare]] squadron, INAS 312, which moved here from [[INS Hansa]] in [[Goa]]. On 16 April 1988, the [[Tupolev Tu-142]]MK-E aircraft were commissioned into the squadron by the then Defence Minister, Shri [[K. C. Pant]], at INS Hansa.The Albatross as they are called celebrated the silver jubilee of induction at Rajali.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/content/tu-142m|title=INAS 312 – The Albatross|publisher=Indian Navy|accessdate=10 December 2015}}</ref> The replacement aircraft for the TU 142 M are P8i Poseidon and eight of them have started operating from Rajali .The Helicopter Training School which operated from INS Garuda was shifted to Rajali from July 1991 in the year of commissioning itself and has been training rotary wing pilots of the Navy and the Coast Guard ever since. This self-contained base will be celebrating its silver jubilee on 11 March 2017.
Commander of Coast Guard Region East. Rajali, named after a bird, was commissioned by then [[President of India|President]] [[R. Venkataraman]]. The upgraded airbase became home to an [[anti-submarine warfare]] squadron, INAS 312, which moved here from [[INS Hansa]] in [[Goa]]. On 16 April 1988, the [[Tupolev Tu-142]]MK-E aircraft were commissioned into the squadron by the then [[Minister of Defence (India)|Defence Minister]], [[K. C. Pant]], at [[INS Hansa]]. The Albatross as they are called celebrated the silver jubilee of induction at Rajali.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/content/tu-142m|title=INAS 312 – The Albatross|publisher=Indian Navy|access-date=10 December 2015}}</ref> The replacement aircraft for the TU 142 M are P8i Poseidon and eight of them have started operating from Rajali. The Helicopter Training School which operated from INS Garuda was shifted to Rajali from July 1991 in the year of commissioning itself and has been training rotary-wing pilots of the Navy and the Coast Guard ever since. This self-contained base celebrated its silver jubilee on 11 March 2017. Boeing will establish a training facility spanning 60,000 sq ft for the [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon|P-8I Neptune]] by 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indian-navy-looking-at-more-p-8i-submarine-killers-admiral-lanba/articleshow/62484276.cms|title=Indian Navy looking at more P-8I 'submarine killers': Admiral Lanba|date=2018|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2018-01-13}}</ref>


INS Rajali now spans {{convert|2320|acre|km2}} and has the longest military runway in [[Asia]].<ref name=in-nas>{{cite web|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/NavalAvnWebsite/NavalAirStations.htm|title=Naval Air Stations|publisher=Indian Navy|accessdate=2011-08-15}}</ref>
INS Rajali now spans {{convert|2320|acre|km2}} and has the longest military runway in [[Asia]].<ref name=in-nas>{{cite web|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/NavalAvnWebsite/NavalAirStations.htm|title=Naval Air Stations|publisher=Indian Navy|access-date=2011-08-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810053816/http://indiannavy.nic.in/NavalAvnWebsite/NavalAirStations.htm|archive-date=2011-08-10|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==2015 Floods==
==2015 Floods==
During the [[2015 South India Floods]] when [[Chennai International Airport]] was closed due to floodwaters, INS Rajali was used as a makeshift airport for relief operations as well as limited commercial flights.<ref>{{cite news|title=Floodwaters recede as Chennai rain eases|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35003353|accessdate=7 December 2015|work=BBC|date=4 December 2015}}</ref> Some passengers had been brought from flooded areas by helicopter.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Josephine|first1=Serena|title=500 passengers flown out of INS Rajali|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/500-passengers-flown-out-from-ins-rajali/article7950873.ece|accessdate=7 December 2015|work=The Hindu|date=5 December 2015}}</ref> Commuter services on the [[Chennai Suburban Railway]] were operated from [[Arakkonam Junction]] for the benefit of passengers coming by air through Rajali.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beach-Arakkonam train service on|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/beacharakkonam-train-service-on/article7950723.ece|accessdate=7 December 2015|work=The Hindu|date=6 December 2015}}</ref>
During the [[2015 South India Floods]] when [[Chennai International Airport]] was closed due to floodwaters, INS Rajali was used as a makeshift airport for relief operations as well as limited commercial flights.<ref>{{cite news|title=Floodwaters recede as Chennai rain eases|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35003353|access-date=7 December 2015|work=BBC|date=4 December 2015}}</ref> Some passengers had been brought from flooded areas by helicopter.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Josephine|first1=Serena|title=500 passengers flown out of INS Rajali|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/500-passengers-flown-out-from-ins-rajali/article7950873.ece|access-date=7 December 2015|work=The Hindu|date=5 December 2015}}</ref> Commuter services on the [[Chennai Suburban Railway]] were operated from [[Arakkonam Junction]] for the benefit of passengers coming by air through Rajali.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beach-Arakkonam train service on|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/beacharakkonam-train-service-on/article7950723.ece|access-date=7 December 2015|work=The Hindu|date=6 December 2015}}</ref>


==Units==
==Units==
INS Rajali is home to the navy's [[INAS 312]] squadron which operates [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon#Variants|P-8I Neptune]]
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 patrol]], [[anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine]] and [[anti-surface warfare]]. Indian Navy became the first international customer for the new P-8 [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon]] aircraft with the conclusion of the nearly US $2.1 billion contract on 01 Jan 2009 for a total of eight aircraft. The first aircraft arrived in India on the 15 May 2013 and as of November 2015; all eight a/c have been inducted into the Indian Navy and are fully integrated into its operations.


==See also==
INS Rajali is also home to the navy's Helicopter Training School.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}
; Indian navy
* [[List of Indian Navy bases]]
* [[List of active Indian Navy ships]]

; Integrated commands and units
* [[Armed Forces Special Operations Division]]
* [[Defence Cyber Agency]]
* [[Integrated Defence Staff]]
* [[Integrated Space Cell]]
* [[Nuclear Command Authority (India)|Indian Nuclear Command Authority]]
* [[Indian Armed Forces]]
* [[Special Forces of India]]

; Other lists
* [[Strategic Forces Command]]
* [[List of Indian Air Force stations]]
* [[List of Indian Navy bases]]
* [[List of countries with overseas military bases#India|India's overseas military bases]]


==References==
==References==
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{{Airports in India}}
{{Airports in India}}
{{Indian Navy}}
{{Naval_establishments_of_India}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:INS Rajali}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:INS Rajali}}
⚫
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Airports in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Airports in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian Naval Air Stations|Rajali]]
[[Category:Indian Naval Air Stations|Rajali]]
[[Category:1942 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1942]]
⚫
[[Category:1992 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]

Latest revision as of 10:42, 28 February 2023

INS Rajali
Summary
Airport typeNaval Air Station
OperatorIndian Navy
LocationArakkonam, Ranipet district, Tamil Nadu
Elevation AMSL285 ft / 87 m
Coordinates13°04′16″N 079°41′28″E / 13.07111°N 79.69111°E / 13.07111; 79.69111
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
06/24 13,460 4,103 Asphalt concrete

INS Rajali, (IATA: N/A, ICAO: VOAR) is an Indian naval air station located near Arakkonam, Ranipet district, Tamil Nadu in southern India. It operates under the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy,[1] and has the longest military runway in Asia.[2]

History[edit]

The airfield at Arakkonam was constructed in early 1942, for use by Allies of World War II. 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 after the war and lay unused until the 1980s, when it was transferred to the Indian Navy who rehabilitated and commissioned the airfield as INS Rajali. INS Rajali was commissioned on 11 March 1992. The commissioning commanding officer was Captain RS Vasan, who subsequently retired in the rank of commodore while on deputation to the Coast Guard as the Regional Commander of Coast Guard Region East. Rajali, named after a bird, was commissioned by then President R. Venkataraman. The upgraded airbase became home to an anti-submarine warfare squadron, INAS 312, which moved here from INS Hansa in Goa. On 16 April 1988, the Tupolev Tu-142MK-E aircraft were commissioned into the squadron by the then Defence Minister, K. C. Pant, at INS Hansa. The Albatross as they are called celebrated the silver jubilee of induction at Rajali.[3] The replacement aircraft for the TU 142 M are P8i Poseidon and eight of them have started operating from Rajali. The Helicopter Training School which operated from INS Garuda was shifted to Rajali from July 1991 in the year of commissioning itself and has been training rotary-wing pilots of the Navy and the Coast Guard ever since. This self-contained base celebrated its silver jubilee on 11 March 2017. Boeing will establish a training facility spanning 60,000 sq ft for the P-8I Neptune by 2021.[4]

INS Rajali now spans 2,320 acres (9.4 km2) and has the longest military runway in Asia.[5]

2015 Floods[edit]

During the 2015 South India Floods when Chennai International Airport was closed due to floodwaters, INS Rajali was used as a makeshift airport for relief operations as well as limited commercial flights.[6] Some passengers had been brought from flooded areas by helicopter.[7] Commuter services on the Chennai Suburban Railway were operated from Arakkonam Junction for the benefit of passengers coming by air through Rajali.[8]

Units[edit]

INS Rajali is home to the navy's INAS 312 squadron which operates P-8I Neptune

See also[edit]

Indian navy
Integrated commands and units
Other lists

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Eastern Naval Command Authorities & Units". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  2. ^ "Airport information for VOAR". World Aero Data. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) Data current as of October 2006.
  3. ^ "INAS 312 – The Albatross". Indian Navy. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Indian Navy looking at more P-8I 'submarine killers': Admiral Lanba". The Economic Times. 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Naval Air Stations". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  6. ^ "Floodwaters recede as Chennai rain eases". BBC. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  7. ^ Josephine, Serena (5 December 2015). "500 passengers flown out of INS Rajali". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Beach-Arakkonam train service on". The Hindu. 6 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
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