Overview
- INAS 335 ‘Ospreys’ was commissioned at INS Hansa in Goa on December 17 in the presence of Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi.
- The Navy says the MH‑60R boosts maritime domain awareness and rapid response across anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike, and search-and-rescue missions, with operations from carriers and major surface combatants.
- The squadron was declared fully operational from commissioning, with the helicopters already proven in Operation Sindoor, TROPEX‑25, and the Tri‑Services Exercise 2025.
- India is procuring 24 MH‑60R helicopters under a contract valued at over Rs 15,000 crore, supported by five‑year sustainment LOAs signed last month with U.S. suppliers worth about Rs 7,995 crore.
- The induction aligns with broader naval aviation upgrades that include a second P‑8I squadron at INS Hansa, planned MQ‑9B Sea Guardian remotely piloted aircraft, and the recently signed contract for 26 Rafale‑M carrier-borne fighters.