New Delhi: Indian Naval Air Squadron 316, Indian Navy’s second P-8l aircraft squadron, will be commissioned on March 29, 2022 at INS Hansa, Goa in the presence of Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff.

INAS 316 will operate the Boeing P-8l, the sophisticated multi-role long range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (LRMR ASW) aircraft. The aircraft is powered by twin jet engines, and can be equipped with air-to-ship missiles and torpedoes.

The Indian Navy had acquired the first batch of eight P-8I aircraft in 2013 that are stationed at INS Rajali, Arakkonam. INAS 316 will operate the second batch of four additional aircraft acquired, adding teeth to the armour of the Indian Navy, to deter, detect and destroy any threat to the nation in the IOR.

INAS 316 has been christened ‘The Condors’, after one of the largest flying birds in the world. The insignia of the squadron depicts a Condor searching over the blue expanse of the sea.