Over the last decade, India’s steady ascent as a credible military power has unfolded despite persistent scepticism abroad and deliberate narrative sabotage at home. While adversarial states continue to test India through terror proxies, cyber operations and internal destabilisation, sections of the domestic ecosystem remain curiously invested in downplaying the armed forces’ growing capabilities. Yet, reality keeps intruding—most recently through the Indian Navy’s commissioning of INAS 335, a new naval air squadron equipped with MH-60R multi-role helicopters, aptly christened “The Ospreys.”
The ceremony at INS Hansa, Goa on December 17, presided over by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, marked more than the addition of another squadron. It signalled the maturation of India’s maritime combat doctrine—one that blends deterrence, surveillance and rapid response across an increasingly volatile Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
This development must be viewed against a sobering security backdrop. Despite decisive victories in 1948, 1971, the Kargil conflict of 1999, and more recent retaliatory operations such as Operation Sindoor—India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack—hostile actors have not abandoned their strategy of “a thousand cuts.” The recent arrest of radicalised professionals in Haryana is a stark reminder of how deep and adaptive this ecosystem has become. The threat is no longer confined to border regions; it seeks penetration deep into India’s heartland.
It is precisely this evolving threat matrix that has shaped India’s military modernisation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The induction of Apache attack helicopters, Rafale fighter jets, the S-400 air defence system (with future eyes on next-generation missile shields), and now advanced naval aviation platforms, reflects a conscious shift—from reactive procurement to capability-based force planning.
INAS 335 is the second Indian Navy squadron to operate the MH-60R after INAS 334 at INS Garuda, Kochi. These helicopters significantly enhance maritime domain awareness and provide a decisive edge in anti-submarine warfare (ASW), surface strike missions and search-and-rescue operations. Their operational credibility is already proven, having participated in large-scale exercises such as TROPEX 2025 and live deployments during Operation Sindoor.
The timing of this commissioning is also symbolic. It coincides with 75 years since the approval of the Navy’s Fleet Air Arm in 1947—a reminder of how far Indian naval aviation has progressed from modest beginnings to becoming a sophisticated, network-centric force.
Built by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, to stringent US Navy specifications, the MH-60R Seahawk is a battle-proven platform. A specialised variant famously played a critical role in Operation Neptune Spear, the 2011 mission that eliminated Osama bin Laden. For India, however, the helicopter’s value lies in its comprehensive sensor and weapons suite: multi-mode radar, electronic support measures, infrared cameras, dipping sonar for submarine detection, and the ability to deploy torpedoes, air-to-surface missiles and onboard guns.
Equally important is its operational flexibility. The MH-60R can operate seamlessly from shore bases, aircraft carriers and major naval combatants, and has been rigorously tested in Indian Reference Atmosphere conditions. It will progressively replace the ageing Sea King helicopters that have served the Navy with distinction for decades, ensuring continuity without compromising capability.
Taken together, the commissioning of INAS 335 underscores a larger truth often ignored in public discourse: India’s rise as an emerging military power is not accidental. It is the product of political clarity, institutional reform and sustained investment in deterrence. In an era of contested seas, undersea threats and hybrid warfare, the Indian Navy’s expanding aviation arm stands as a quiet but formidable signal—that India is not merely reacting to threats, but shaping the strategic balance in its favour.
