P8I TRAINING SIMULATOR COMPLEX INAUGURATED AT INS RAJALI, ARAKKONAM

Chennai 25 April 2023

P8I TRAINING SIMULATOR COMPLEX INAUGURATED AT INS RAJALI, ARAKKONAM

Ø The project, only the fourth of its kind in the world along with US, UK and Australia, is the first in Asia.

Ø The complex houses a state-of-the-art simulator for training requirements of P8I aircrew and technical team aimed towards safe operation and maintenance of the aircraft.

Giridhar Aramane, Defence Secretary, Ministry of Defence inaugurated Ashok Roy Training Simulator Complex’ (ARTSC) at Indian Naval Station (INS), Rajali in the presence of Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, Flag Officer Co mmanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command and Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh Vice Chief of Naval Staff tod ay, at Arakkonam. The function was attended by family members of Lt Cdr Ashok Roy.

The Complex houses a state-of-the-art simulator for training requirements of P8I aircrew and technical team ai med towards safe operation and maintenance of the aircraft. The facility significantly contributes towards imp roved training standards and reduction of training requirements on actual aircraft, thereby ensuring higher avai lability of aircraft for operational missions. The aircrew can practice emergencies such as Engine Failure/ Fire, Rapid Decompression, Reject Take Off since these can be easily simulated for honing flying skills, which cannot be practiced in actual flying missions.

Indian Navy inducted state-of-the-art Boeing P8I aircraft in 2013 and have since flown over 40,000 hrs in a deca de. Designed for Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance (LRMR), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti Surface W arfare (ASuW) and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, the aircraft plays a crucial role as eyes of the Indian Navy, in the vast expanse of IOR, whilst undertaking critical maritime operations.

The training simulator complex is named as ‘Ashok Roy Training Simulator Complex’ (ARTSC) to commemorate distinguished service rendered by Lieutenant Commander Ashok Roy, Vir Chakra (VrC), Nausena Medal (NM) during gallant action in the 1971 Indo Pak war. The airbase is now home to a long range maritime reconnaissan ce and anti-submarine warfare squadron, INAS 312 and Helicopter Training School, INAS 561.

* * * * *

PS/RMP/04/23