Navy to augment facilities at naval air station

Kochi: Naval Air Station INS Garuda at the Southern Naval Command here is augmenting infrastructure to take on the challenges posed by asymmetric seaborne threats in the emerging security environment. Surveillance over the sea acquired a whole new dimension post-26/11 placing more emphasis on the key role played by maritime reconnaissance aircraft with deep-looking capability in thwarting attacks by the sea.

With the Navy taking strides to achieve leapfrogging capabilities in maritime recce by signing contract with Boeing for the P-8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft�the first of the total eight would be delivered in 2013�and scouting for fresh medium range ones (MRMR), Garuda, the alma mater of naval aviation, is gearing up to accommodate change.

New hangars are coming up at the air station for future acquisitions. A station to house the P-8I simulator, which would be delivered alongside the aircraft, is also under construction.