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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= INAS 551
|image= INAS 551 insignia.jpg
|image_size= 200px
|caption= INAS 551 Insignia
|dates= 5 September 1961 - ''present''<ref name=indiannavy1>{{cite web|title=INAS 551 – The Phantoms
|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/naval-aviation/inas-551|publisher=Indian Navy|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref>
|country= {{flag|India}}
|allegiance=
|branch= {{nowrap|[[File:Naval Ensign of India.svg|25px|Indian Navy seal]] [[Indian Navy]]}}
|type=
|role=
|size=
|command_structure=
|current_commander=
|garrison=[[INS Dega]], [[Visakhapatnam]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Naval Aviation Rolling Trophies Awarded |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/naval-aviation-rolling-trophies-awarded |website=Indiannavy.nic.in |access-date=29 April 2022}}</ref>
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname= The Phantoms
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
|aircraft_trainer= [[HAL HJT-16 Kiran]]<ref name=indiannavy2>{{cite web|title=Indian Naval Air Squadrons|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/naval-fleet/indian-naval-air-squadrons|publisher=Indian Navy|access-date=27 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226081408/http://indiannavy.nic.in/naval-fleet/indian-naval-air-squadrons|archive-date=26 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

The '''INAS 551''' is an [[Indian Navy|Indian naval]] air squadron based at [[INS Dega]], [[Visakhapatnam]].<ref name=indiannavy1/>

== History ==
In its early form the squadron existed as the Naval Jet Flight (NJF) at [[Sulur Air Force Station|Sulur]], which was set up in September 1957 and was equipped with four [[de Havilland Vampire|Vampire]] aircraft. The first Flight Commander was Lt Cdr BD Law. In June 1959 the Naval Jet Flight was reconstituted as INAS 550 A. The third Flt Cdr of the NJF, Lt Raj Anderson became the first Squadron Commander of INAS 550 A, redesignated and commissioned as INAS 551 on 5 September 1961. A year later [[Hawker Sea Hawk|Sea Hawk]]s from INAS 300 were also inducted into the squadron. The role of the squadron was to train pilots towards tactical flying and air combat on the Vampire. Before the pilots left for INAS 300, they were converted on Sea Hawks. The squadron was, thus, a feeder squadron for fighter pilots into [[Indian Naval Air Arm|naval aviation]]. The squadron inducted [[HAL HJT-16 Kiran|Kiran Mk I]] in 1970 and commenced fighter training on these aircraft. An advanced version of the Kiran, the Kiran Mk II was inducted in 1986.

In 1990, the Sea Harrier Operational Flying Training Unit was set up and INAS 551 was bifurcated into two flights. INAS 551 A operated the Kirans and INAS 551 B operated the [[British Aerospace Sea Harrier|Sea Harrier]]s, undertaking conversion onto the aircraft for pilots joining INAS 300. In May 2003, the squadron added another feather to its cap, when it set up a naval aerobatic team, the [[Sagar Pawan]], operating Kiran Mk II jets. The Indian Navy, thus, became only the second navy in the world after the US Navy to have an active fixed wing aerobatic team.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} The squadron conducts Naval Orientation Courses for pilots before they progress onto the Sea Harrier and the [[Mikoyan MiG-29K|MiG-29K]] aircraft. Pre Qualified Flying Instructor Course training is also conducted for Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard pilots. The squadron continues to fulfill its role of training naval fighter pilots till date.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/kiran-mk-11a2|title=KIRAN MK 1/1A/2 {{!}} Indian Navy|website=www.indiannavy.nic.in|access-date=2016-05-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603080944/http://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/kiran-mk-11a2|archive-date=2016-06-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Indian Navy}}

[[Category:Aircraft squadrons of the Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1951]]

{{India-mil-stub}}

INAS 551 - Revision history

Bot at 14:58, 29 April 2022