AFOVA New Letter 2 of Year 2021

Section 7 – Panorama CV 2 No. 02 / 2021 Page 299 of 332 TUs, creation of additional maintenance and support facilities have added a formidable punch to Rajali the pride of India and the envy of our neighbours. On the occasion of the silver jubilee, I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the Project team, the commissioning crew who worked relentlessly and successive commissions for the last 25 years who have added value with each commission and made Rajali what it is today. Updates, moving forward to 2021. This article as above was written for the special issue of Quarter Deck which is compiled and issued annually by Naval Headquarters. The actual commissioning ceremony celebrations took place later and was indeed a mega event. The Tu 142 M have made way to the multi- mission capable P8is which have delivered in terms of enhancing the Maritime Domain Awareness. I was fortunate to visit the Boeing factory in Seattle many years post my retirement in 2009 when I was in a think tank and selected for a International Visitor Leadership programme (IVLP). This visit was facilitated on my request and interestingly, I was asked as to why I would be so keen to visit the factory and I said I commissioned the air station which will be home to them on induction. It was gracious of the organizers to plan for this visit exclusively for five Indians who were part of this prestigious programme. In fact all the forays of PLA units including their nuclear submarines have been tracked and recorded to build up our data bases. Ultimately, there would be total of 20 P8is which would be based on both coasts and would meet the increasing demands of the Indian Navy. These aircraft have been deployed at short notice for many tasks including providing help and succor in far flung areas including our friendly neighbours in South and South East Asia. With the reach and capability, these wonderful flying machines have added a punch to what the Indian Navy can accomplish to further our national interests. There are no doubts that INS Rajali would continue to serve the interests of the nation in the coming decades.