A two-day seminar on “Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance (LRMR) Platforms: Strengthening Indian Maritime Prowess in an Expanding Area of Responsibility” was held at INS Rajali in Arakkonam.

According to a press release, the seminar, which concluded on Wednesday, was organised by Eastern Naval Command. Rear Admiral Shantanu Jha, Chief Staff Officer (Operations), Eastern Naval Command was the chief guest.

A compendium of articles, which was released on the occasion, capture insights on maritime surveillance and the evolving role of Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance platforms like the aircraft P8I and the High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft in safeguarding India’s maritime interests in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.

The event commemorated 50,000 hours of flying by the Indian Navy’s premier LRMR Squadron, the INAS 312, on the P8I aircraft. It is a landmark achievement in the history of Indian Naval Aviation. INAS 312 operates the State-of-the-Art P8I aircraft from INS Rajali and has been at the forefront in maintaining a sharp vigil over the vital Areas of Interest in the maritime domain.

INS Rajali, located on the Eastern Seaboard, also operates the HALE drones MQ-9B Sea Guardian, making it an epicentre for long-range maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare and surveillance across multiple domains, the release said.