Indian Navy Sea Dragons to be withdrawn

After 46 years of service, the Bharatiya Nau Sena (Indian Navy) will withdraw their remaining Ilyushin Il-38SD Sea Dragon Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft from operational service.

On 26 January 2023, the Il-38SD will participate in the Indian Republic Day Parade flypast for the first and last time. How many aircraft will join is not known. Soon after, the Goa/Dabolim (INS Hansa) based aircraft will be stored.

The aircraft are operated by Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 315 Winged Stallion. The Il-38 was inducted into service from 1977 onwards and five aircraft were procured till 1983.

In October 2002, the Indian Navy lost two aircraft in a mid-air collision above INS Hansa in Goa. Two ex Russian Navy Il-38s were added to the squadron in December 2009 and February 2010.

At INS Hansa, the Sea Dragons will be replaced by the Boeing P-8I Neptune, of which four aircraft have been delivered to INAS316 The Condors since December 2021. The new unit was officially commissioned on 29 March 2022.

One Il-38SD, serial IN305, was put on display at the Naval Aviation Museum at Goa/Dabolim in March 2020. It is not known what will happen to the other aircraft.

Overview of the INAS315 Il-38s:

IN301/DAB (c/n 0810 110 07), d/d 02sep77, upgraded to Il-38SD in 2007
IN302/DAB (c/n 0810 110 09), d/d 02sep77, mid-air collision with IN304 on 01oct02
IN303/DAB (c/n 0810 110 10), d/d 02sep77, upgraded to Il-38SD in 2006
IN304/DAB (c/n 0800 106 10), d/d in 1983, mid-air collision with IN302 on 01oct02
IN305/DAB (c/n 0800 106 09), d/d in 1983, upgraded to Il-38SD in 2002, preserved at Goa/Dabolim (INS Hansa)
IN306/DAB (c/n 8700 101 10), d/d dec09, ex Russian Navy
IN307/DAB (c/n 8800 102 07), d/d feb10, ex Russian Navy

Photo by Vyacheslav Grushnikov (via russianplanes.net)