https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=INAS_303INAS 303 - Revision history2026-07-30T22:06:30ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=INAS_303&diff=445478&oldid=prevJoanneMoffit at 16:31, 18 October 20242024-10-18T16:31:14Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}<br />
{{Infobox military unit<br />
| unit_name = INAS 303<br />
| image = INAS303_Insignia.png<br />
| image_size = 200px<br />
| caption = INAS 303 Insignia<br />
| dates = 11 May 2013 - ''present''<ref name=defencenews>{{cite news|title=All you need to know about the INAS 303 Black Panthers|url=http://www.defencenews.in/defence-news-internal.aspx?id=Q5v4hSA61kc=|access-date=25 December 2014|work=Defence News|date=13 May 2013}}</ref><br />
| country = {{flag|India}}<br />
| allegiance = <br />
| branch = {{nowrap|[[File:Naval Ensign of India.svg|25px|Indian Navy seal]] [[Indian Navy]]}}<br />
| type = <br />
| role = <br />
| size = <br />
| command_structure = <br />
| current_commander = <br />
| garrison = [[INS Hansa]]<br />
| ceremonial_chief = <br />
| colonel_of_the_regiment = <br />
| nickname = The Black Panthers<ref name=defencenews/><br />
| patron = <br />
| motto = <br />
| colors = <br />
| march = <br />
| mascot = <br />
| battles = <br />
| anniversaries = <br />
| aircraft_fighter = [[Mikoyan MiG-29K]]<br />
}}<br />
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The '''INAS 303''' is an [[Indian Naval Air Arm|Indian naval air squadron]] based at [[INS Hansa]].<ref name=indiannavy>{{cite web|title=INAS 303 - The Black Panthers|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/naval-aviation/inas-303|publisher=Indian Navy|access-date=25 December 2014}}</ref><br />
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== History ==<br />
Indian Navy had contracted for acquisition of 16 [[Mikoyan MiG-29K|MiG 29K/KUB]] carrier based fighter aircraft with RAC MiG on 20 January 2004. Aircraft deliveries began in December 2009 and all 16 aircraft of the main contract were delivered and accepted by the Indian Navy. An option clause contract for 29 additional aircraft was also signed on 8 March 2010. The option was exercised, with delivery of the last of these aircraft scheduled for the end of 2016. Based on the exploitation experience, the first MiG-29K frontline squadron was commissioned on 11 May 2013 at INS Hansa, Goa. [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] [[Ajay D. Theophilus]] was the commissioning Commanding Officer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/content/mig-29k|title=MIG 29K {{!}} Indian Navy|website=indiannavy.nic.in|access-date=2016-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MiG-29K Carrier-Based Multirole Fighter Aircraft |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/mig-29k-carrier-based-multirole-fighter-aircraft/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Naval Technology |language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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The INAS 303 is the only operational squadron that operates MiG-29K in the Indian Navy. The fighter pilots are qualified to the squadron after receiving jet training from [[INAS 551]] and [[INAS 300]] operating [[BAE Systems Hawk#Hawk AJT|Hawk Mk 132]] and MiG-29K, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Life on Squadron |url=https://www.joinindiannavy.gov.in/en/page/life-on-squadron.html |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=joinindiannavy.gov.in}}</ref><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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{{Indian Navy}}<br />
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[[Category:Aircraft squadrons of the Indian Navy]]<br />
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 2013]]</div>JoanneMoffit