Vice Admiral V Srinivas, PVSM, AVSM, NM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, conducted a strategic review visit to INS Parundu on July 17, 2025. The air station, located near Uchipuli in Ramanathapuram district, plays a vital role in the Indian Navy’s maritime surveillance of the South East Bay of Bengal, the Gulf of Mannar, and the Palk Strait.
During the inspection, Vice Admiral Srinivas evaluated the station’s operational preparedness, infrastructure, and its evolving role in UAV-based reconnaissance. INS Parundu, commissioned in 2009, originated from the defunct Ramnad Civil Aerodrome and gained operational relevance in the 1980s during the Sri Lankan Civil War. Today, it supports a mix of platforms including IAI Heron and Searcher Mk II drones and legacy HAL Chetak helicopters.
The Flag Officer interacted with naval personnel at the station and lauded their contributions to coastal security and intelligence gathering in a strategically sensitive zone. The visit also reaffirmed the Southern Naval Command’s role as the Indian Navy’s principal training command, overseeing over 20 premier training establishments across the country.
Notably, the station continues to operate HAL Chetak helicopters—inducted into the Indian Navy in the 1960s—highlighting a balance between time-tested assets and modern technological upgrades such as the Kamov Ka-31 for enhanced maritime domain awareness.
Plans are also underway to open INS Parundu for civilian operations under the government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), signaling its growing importance not just for defence but also regional development.
The Admiral’s visit underscores the Indian Navy’s emphasis on strengthening surveillance capabilities along India’s southeastern coastline and bolstering readiness in areas critical to national security.
