The Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command hosted a two-day seminar on Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance (LRMR) at INS Rajali, Arakkonam, highlighting India’s expanding maritime surveillance capabilities.
About INS Rajali
- Type: Indian Naval Air Station.
- Location: Near Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu (80 km west of Chennai).
- Commissioned: 11 March 1992.
- Name Origin: Named Rajali after a hawk species native to Tamil Nadu’s coastal belt.
- Area: 2,200 acres.
- Runway: Has the longest military runway in Asia.
- Command: Operates under Eastern Naval Command.
Features & Role
- Largest & Most Modern Naval Air Station in India.
- Personnel Strength: About 4,700.
- Core Tasks:
- Operations – Maritime reconnaissance & anti-submarine warfare.
- Training – Hosts the Helicopter Training School.
Strategic Assets
- INAS 312 Squadron (“Albatross”): Equipped with P-8I Poseidon aircraft for LRMR and Anti-Submarine Warfare.
- MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones: Provides long-range surveillance and high-endurance maritime operations.
- Helicopter Training School: Trains naval aviators on rotary-wing platforms.
Significance
- Boosts India’s maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Enhances anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and long-range strike capability.
- Acts as a hub for joint operations, training, and maritime surveillance.
✅ For Prelims: Remember – INS Rajali = Asia’s longest military runway + P-8I & Sea Guardian base + Eastern Naval
Command.
✅ For Mains: Link it to India’s role as a net security provider in the IOR and maritime strategy against Chinese presence
in Indo-Pacific.