| INAS 315 | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 October 1977 - 31 October 2023[1] |
| Country |  India |
| Branch |  Indian Navy |
| Garrison/HQ | INS Hansa,Goa |
| Nickname(s) | The Winged Stallions[2] |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Patrol | Ilyushin Il-38[3] |
TheINAS 315 was anIndian naval air squadron based atINS Hansa,Goa.[4]
INAS 315 was commissioned on 1 October 1977 byRear AdmiralM. K. Roy. Cdr B K Malik was the first Squadron Commander. The squadron was initially equipped with threeIlyushin Il-38 aircraft and later two more Il-38 aircraft were inducted. With the induction of the Il-38s, the Navy acquired modern maritime reconnaissance and fixed-wingAnti Submarine Warfare (ASW) capability. In January 1978, the squadron aircraft using the on boardMagnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) equipment successfully located the wreckage of the ill-fated Air India Jumbo which had crashed soon after take-off of the Mumbai coast. The Winged Stallions completed 25,000 hours of accident free flying in 1996. The squadron's Il-38 aircraft were given "Sea Dragon" mid-life upgrades in 2009.[5]
On 1 October 2002, two Il-38s of INAS 315 collided in mid-air during a flypast nearDabolim, Goa, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the squadron. The collision and subsequent crashes killed all six crew members in each aircraft and three bystanders on the ground. Prior to the collision, the squadron had flown 30,000 hours over 25 years without a serious accident.[6]
The squadron was decommissioned in 31 October 2023 after 46 years of service.[7]
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