INS Dega | |||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Naval Air Station | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Indian Navy | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Visakhapatnam,India | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 15 ft / 5 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 17°43′16″N083°13′28″E / 17.72111°N 83.22444°E /17.72111; 83.22444 | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
.svg)  VOVZ  VOVZ | |||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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| Source:DAFIF | |||||||||||||||
INSDega (ICAO:VOVZ), is anaval air station of theIndian Navy. It is located inVisakhapatnam,Andhra Pradesh on the east coast of India.[1][2]
The Indian Navy started aviation operations in Visakhapatnam in when the321 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 civilianVisakhapatnam Airport was transferred from theNational Airport Authority of India (now, Airports Authority of India) to the Indian Navy. The air station was then designated asNaval Air Station, Visakhapatnam. The 321Chetak 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 INSDega by thenVice AdmiralLaxminarayan Ramdas. It is named for theTelugu language word for a big and powerful bird of the eagle family.[3][4]
As of 2014, INS Dega had 5 squadrons/flights and 4 ship-borne flights.[3] As of 2015, the airbase housed 40 aircraft including naval helicopters.[5]
Indian naval air squadrons based at INSDega include:
As of 2014, reports emerged that preparations have begun to deploy and permanently base a full squadron of 17Mikoyan MiG-29K fighters to strengthen the security of India's eastern seaboard.[6][7] In order to decrease the growing flight traffic in the base, a new base has been under consideration by the navy atBadangi, nearVizianagaram.[8][9]
In July 2014, the MoD an initial sanction of₹450crore (equivalent to₹719 crore or US$85 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 paralleltaxiway at the base is also in the offing which will cut down the runway occupancy time.[7]
After the scheduled completion of theBhogapuram International Airport, there is a planned expansion of INS Dega. The base will also host a squadron of 26Dassault Rafale-M squadron which will be operating fromINS Vikrant.[10]
On 2 June 2010, aHAL Chetak with four personnel crashed intoSarada River after clipping high tension wires.[11] Fishermen were the first responders who helped remove the pilots seat belt and rescued the injured. One officer died while three were injured.[12]
On February 16, 2012, an unmanned UAVIAI Searcher crashed into a hill near Himachal Nagar,Gajuwaka while returning from operations. Navy officials landed from choppers to retrieve the Black box.[13]
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