The Indian Navy has officially retired its iconic Sea King Mk 42B helicopter fleet and decommissioned the historic Indian Naval Air Squadron 330 (INAS 330), marking the end of an era after more than five decades of distinguished operational service.
Known as the “Flying Frigates,” the Sea King Mk 42B helicopters completed their final ceremonial flight from INS Shikra, the Western Naval Command’s naval air station in Mumbai, on 15 June 2026. The occasion also marked the formal “number plating” of INAS 330, popularly known as the “Harpoons” squadron.
Commissioned on 17 April 1971 at INS Garuda, Kochi, under the command of Commander M.P. Wadhawan, INAS 330 went on to become one of the most decorated and operationally significant squadrons in the Indian Navy.
The squadron played a pivotal role during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War and achieved a historic milestone when a Sea King helicopter became the first multi-role helicopter to land on the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on 26 July 1971.
Over the past 55 years, the Sea King Mk 42B served as the backbone of the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare capabilities. Armed with advanced torpedoes, depth charges and missiles, the helicopters were employed in a wide range of missions including anti-submarine operations, anti-ship warfare, maritime surveillance and search-and-rescue tasks.
The Harpoons squadron built an impressive legacy of operational excellence and gallantry, earning 22 Nausena Medals during its service. Typically operating between six and eight Sea King helicopters, the squadron became synonymous with professionalism and maritime combat capability.
While the Sea King Mk 42B fleet has now been retired, other variants of the Sea King will continue to serve in the Indian Navy. The retired airframes will not be scrapped; instead, some will be repurposed as utility transport helicopters after the removal of combat systems, while others will serve as test platforms for ongoing sensor and weapon trials, including the Naval Anti-Ship Missile (NASM) programme.
The retirement of the Sea King Bravo fleet comes as the Indian Navy continues to modernise its rotary-wing aviation capabilities with the induction of advanced platforms such as the Sikorsky MH-60R multi-role helicopters.
The decommissioning of INAS 330 marks the conclusion of a remarkable chapter in Indian Naval Aviation history, celebrating a fleet and squadron that served the nation with distinction, professionalism and unwavering dedication for more than half a century.
