INS Dega

INS Dega
IATA: none ICAO: VOVZ
Summary
Airport type	Naval Air Station
Operator	Indian Navy
Location	Visakhapatnam, India
Elevation AMSL	15 ft / 5 m
Coordinates	17°43′16″N 083°13′28″E
Map
VOVZ VOVZ
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 05/23 1,829 6,000 Asphalt 10/28 3,050 10,007 Asphalt
Source: DAFIF

INS Dega (ICAO: VOVZ), is a naval air station of the Indian Navy. It is located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on the east coast of India.

History

The Indian Navy started aviation operations in Visakhapatnam in when the 321 Helicopter Flight was based at INS Circars in Visakhapatnam on 23 December 1972. In 1976, four helipads along with hangars were set up adjacent to the civil airfield. On 12 March 1986, the civilian Visakhapatnam Airport was transferred from the National Airport Authority of India (now, Airports Authority of India) to the Indian Navy. The air station was then designated as Naval Air Station, Visakhapatnam. The 321 Chetak Flight was initially based in the Air Base along with other shipborne flights. Additional hangars, maintenance facilities and an operations complex were constructed soon after.

On 21 October 1991, the air station was renamed and formally commissioned as INS Dega by then Vice Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas. It is named for the Telugu language word for a big and powerful bird of the eagle family.

Units

As of 2014, INS Dega had 5 squadrons/flights and 4 ship-borne flights. As of 2015, the airbase housed 40 aircraft including naval helicopters.

Indian naval air squadrons based at INS Dega include:

• INAS 551, a fighter training squadron BAE Hawk AJT aircraft
• INAS 311, a reconnaissance squadron operating Dornier 228 aircraft
• INAS 321, a search and rescue squadron operating HAL Chetak helicopters
• INAS 333, an anti-submarine warfare squadron operating Kamov Ka-28 helicopters
• INAS 350, a logistics and transport squadron operating Sea King 42C helicopters
• a UAV squadron, operating DRDO Lakshya pilotless targeting UAVs

Further development

As of 2014, reports emerged that preparations have begun to deploy and permanently base a full squadron of 17 Mikoyan MiG-29K fighters to strengthen the security of India's eastern seaboard. In order to decrease the growing flight traffic in the base, a new base has been under consideration by the navy at Badangi, near Vizianagaram.

In July 2014, the MoD an initial sanction of ₹450 crore (equivalent to ₹719 crore or US$86 million in 2023) was invested for building related technical support and infrastructure facilities. The plan for the expansion of the airbase envisages a massive increase in size as well as capabilities. In the final scenario, from the present size of 1,100 acres (4.5 km²), the INS Dega will be spread out to over 1,500 acres (6.1 km²). A parallel taxiway at the base is also in the offing which will cut down the runway occupancy time.

After the scheduled completion of the Bhogapuram International Airport, there is a planned expansion of INS Dega. The base will also host a squadron of 26 Dassault Rafale-M squadron which will be operating from INS Vikrant.

Incidents

On 2 June 2010, a HAL Chetak with four personnel crashed into Sarada River after clipping high tension wires. Fishermen were the first responders who helped remove the pilots seat belt and rescued the injured. One officer died while three were injured.

On February 16, 2012, an unmanned UAV IAI Searcher crashed into a hill near Himachal Nagar,Gajuwaka while returning from operations. Navy officials landed from choppers to retrieve the Black box.

See also

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
• 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
• India's overseas military bases