Commodore Rajat Kumar took over command of INS Dega from Commodore Shivaji Yadav on January 9, 2026, during a ceremonial parade held at the naval air station in Visakhapatnam.
A qualified MiG-29K pilot, Commodore Rajat Kumar assumed charge as the 21st Commanding Officer of INS Dega, one of the Indian Navy’s most critical and prestigious air establishments on India’s eastern seaboard. The formal handover ceremony was attended by officers, sailors, and airmen of the station, reflecting naval traditions and operational continuity.
INS Dega plays a pivotal role in supporting naval aviation operations in the Bay of Bengal and the wider Indo-Pacific region, hosting frontline fighter aircraft, maritime patrol assets, and helicopter units. The air station is central to the Eastern Naval Command’s operational preparedness, surveillance missions, and rapid response capabilities.
With his operational flying background and leadership experience, Cmde Rajat Kumar is expected to further strengthen the station’s combat readiness, training standards, and aviation safety culture.
