ARAKKONAM, MARCH 13
On the 30th founding anniversary of INS Rajali, a two-day seminar enabled exchange of ideas on strategic public-private partnership for achieving self-reliance under the ‘Atmanirbhar’ initiative, the government said on Sunday. The seminar themed, ‘Sustenance of maritime reconnaissance aircraft fleet through self reliance’ was held at INS Rajali, the premier air station and base support facility, here from March 11 to 12, a Defence release said.
A special postal cover was released commemorating and recognising INS Rajali’s stellar milestone of ‘Three Decades of Excellence in Maritime Reconnaissance’ by Vice Adm Puneet Kumar Bahl Commandant-Indian Naval Academy, in the presence of Vice Adm Dilip Deshpande (Retd), Rear Adm Deepak Bansal, VSM, Asst Chief of Naval Staff (Air Materiel). Post Master General, India Post, Chennai and other distinguished guests.
The seminar enabled cross-pollination of ideas on strategic public-private partnership for achieving self-reliance under the ‘Atmanirbhar’ initiative of the Government of India and provided the ideas and avenues for setting up of Maintenance Repair Overhaul facilities for Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft.
As many as 15 papers were presented during the seminar which included the participation of foreign OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), DPSUs (Defence Public Sector Undertakings) and MROs (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Service providers), including Hindustan Aeronautics, Boeing and General Atomics, HAL, AIESL and Airworks. Addressing the participants of the seminar, the Chief Guest emphasised the need for foreign OEMs to tap indigenous industry and naval resources to develop a joint work model for the sustenance of the aircraft fleet to optimise the maintenance requirements under the aegis of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
INS Rajali, the premier air station and Base Support Facility, Arakkonam celebrated their 30th anniversary on March 11 and 12, respectively. INS Rajaii was commissioned on March 11, 1992 and has been the abode for the Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft Squadron (INAS 312) and Helicopter Training School (INAS 561).
The air station has the unique distinction of operating the state-of-the-art Boeing P8l, Sea Guardian High Altitude Long Range (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) along with legacy vintage Chetak Helicopters.
