IL38

INAS 315 – The Winged Stallions

INAS 315 was commissioned on 01 Oct 77 by R Adm MK Roy. Cdr BK Malik was the first Squadron Commander. The squadron was initially equipped with three Ilyushin 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-wing Anti Submarine Warfare(ASW) capability. In Jan 78, the squadron aircraft using the on board Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) equipment successfully located the wreckage of the ill fated Air India Jumbo which had crashed soon after take-off off the Mumbai coast. The Winged Stallions added yet another feather to their cap when they completed 25000 hours of accident free flying in 1996. With the Mid Life Update of the IL 38 SD (Sea Dragon) being completed in 2009 the Winged Stallions are set to gallop their way to further glory in the coming years.