In a significant development for India's maritime preparedness, the Eastern Seaboard Monday got its first Naval air squadron. The Indian Naval Air Squadron 324, referred to as INAS 324, was commissioned at INS Dega, a Naval station in Visakhapatnam, where the Eastern Naval Command is headquartered. The squadron is equipped with Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK III (MR) helicopters manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The new squadron was commissioned in the presence of Vice-Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, flag officer commanding-in-chief, Eastern Naval Command. The Eastern Naval Command is responsible for all operations in the Bay of Bengal and parts of the Indian Ocean.

With INAS 324, the Indian Navy's Eastern Seaboard will operate a naval air squadron with HAL's indigenously built Advanced Light Helicopter. The defence and security establishment sources said the squadron would significantly boost the Navy's maritime surveillance and search and rescue operations.

Specifically, the ALH MK III helicopters are fitted with the latest technologies and equipment, including modern surveillance radars and electro-optical sensors. These will aid the Navy's operations on the Eastern Seaboard. However, the benefits of the helicopters will not be limited to surveillance and search and rescue operations of the Indian Navy.