Page 215 - Failure to Triumph - Journey of A Student

domestic built HAL Dhruv are used. The MARCOS use Sea King and HAL Dhruv helicopters while
conducting operations. Reconnaissance operations are carried out by Tupolev 142 (TU 142), Ilyushin
38 (IL 38), Dornier Do 228 aircraft, as well as HAL Chetak helicopters. In addition Kiran and Sea
Harriers are the leading strike aircrafts of the Indian Navy. India purchased Russian built MiG-29Ks

to operate from the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. In addition Naval variant of Sukoi-30 is also
being flown from the decks of INS Vikramaditya. The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) arm consists
of around 30 UAVs like Heron and Searcher-IIs that are operated from ships and shore for better
surveillance.

Marine Commando Force

The Marine Commando Force (MCF), also known as MARCOS, is a special forces unit that was
raised by the Indian Navy in 1987 for direct action, special reconnaissance, amphibious warfare and

counter-terrorism. In 1988, the MARCOS successfully rescued several hostages, including Maldives’
then Minister of Education, aboard a ship hijacked by PLOTE mercenaries during Operation Cactus.
The MARCOS are typically deployed to prevent infiltration through the Jhelum and Wular Lake and
are also involved in covert counter-terrorism operations in and around lakes and rivers in Jammu and
Kashmir.

During the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the MARCOS were also involved in the rescue mission of
hostages captured by the terrorists in Taj Mahal Palace & Tower luxury hotel in Mumbai as part of a

large terrorist attack in Mumbai metropolis in November 2008.

Bases

In 2005, the Indian Navy commissioned INS Kadamba at Karwar, 100 km from Goa. This is the third
operational naval base after Mumbai and Vishakapatnam and the first to be controlled exclusively by
the Navy. (The other bases share port facilities with civilian shipping, but this one is for purely naval
use.) Built under Phase I of the multi-billion dollar Project Seabird, it is the largest naval base in the
region. Asia’s largest Naval Academy INS Zamorin, was inaugurated at Ezhimala, in January 2009 by

the Prime Minister of India.

Another naval base is being planned for the eastern shores, near Vishakapatnam at a cost of
US$350 million. The base, which will be located fifty km south of Vishakapatnam in Rambilli
Mandal, will have comprehensive anti-aircraft, anti-submarine and amphibious capabilities. This east
coast base expansion program is in direct response to Chinese PLA Navy activities in the region.

The Indian Navy is setting up a naval station in Madagascar, to monitor and patrol the coast of
Mozambique as well as the Southern Indian Ocean. The Indian Navy also has berthing rights in Oman

and Vietnam.

Other Established Bases