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The Tu-142M, which is still the world's fastest turbo-prop plane, was bought from the Soviet Union in 1998 and inducted into Indian Navy as its long-range maritime patrol aircraft at Dabolim Goa, and moved to INS Rajali in 1992
It will be an emotional moment for naval aviators when they bid goodbye to their workhorse long-range patrol plane Tu-142M, which has served them for 29 long years. The aircraft will be de-inducted by Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba at a ceremony to be held at INS Rajali, India's premiere naval air station at Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu on March 29.
The Tu-142M, which is still the world's fastest turbo-prop plane, was bought from the Soviet Union in 1998 and inducted into Indian Navy as its long-range maritime patrol aircraft at Dabolim Goa, and moved to INS Rajali in 1992. The aircraft was pressed into service to crush the coup in the Maldives, in the operation called ‘Cactus’, and participated in operational missions off Sri Lanka to provide airborne surveillance.
With its four powerful engines, contra-rotating propellers, slender fuselage and swept wings, the aircraft has unmatched speed and enhanced endurance among turbo-prop aircraft.
Naval aviators still swear by the reliability of the plane—it has logged had 30,000 hours of accident-free flying. During its service life, the aircraft has undergone several modifications and retrofitments to keep up with evolving technology and changing requirements of the Navy. Despite being in its twilight year, the aircraft performed exceptionally well in the recently conducted naval exercise TROPEX a few days ago. The role of Tu-142M will now be taken up by the newly inducted US-made P-8l aircraft.
Commander Yogender Mair, the last commanding officer of the squadron with Tu-142M aircraft, will hand over the reins to Commander V.Ranganathan, who will be the first squadron commanding officer with the P-8l.
