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 AdmiralLaxminarayan Ramdas. It is named for the Telugu language word for a big and powerful bird of the eagle family.[3][4]
Units
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 INS Dega include:
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.[6][7] 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.[8][9]
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.[7]
Incidents
On 2 June 2010, a HAL Chetak with four personnel crashed into Sarada River after clipping high tension wires.[10] Fishermen were the first responders who helped remove the pilots seat belt and rescued the injured. One officer died while three were injured.[11]
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.[12]
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