SOURCE: AFI
Recent satellite imagery from INS Rajali, the Indian Navy’s premier naval air station in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu, has revealed a poignant sight: the decommissioned Tupolev Tu-142M long-range maritime patrol aircraft, once the backbone of India’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities, parked in a forest clearing far from the main runway. This positioning, away from active operational areas or public display zones, suggests that the Navy has no immediate plans to relocate these iconic giants to museums, parks, or other visitor-accessible sites, leaving their future uncertain.
The Tu-142M, affectionately nicknamed the “Albatross,” served the Indian Navy for 29 years, from 1988 to 2017, logging an impressive 30,000 accident-free flying hours. Inducted into the Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 312 at INS Hansa, Goa, and later based at INS Rajali from 1992, the Soviet-era aircraft were renowned for their long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. With a 50-meter wingspan, a combat radius of 6,500 km, and a top speed of 850 kmph, the Tu-142M was the world’s fastest turboprop aircraft, earning a fearsome reputation in operations like Operation Cactus in the Maldives (1988), Op Vijay (1998), Op Parakram (2002), and anti-piracy missions from 2011 onward.
The aircraft were formally decommissioned on March 29, 2017, in a ceremonial farewell at INS Rajali, attended by then-Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba. The Tu-142Ms were replaced by the advanced Boeing P-8I Poseidon, with all eight P-8Is fully integrated into INAS 312 by 2015. A static display of one Tu-142M was inaugurated at INS Rajali during the de-induction ceremony, intended to honor its legacy.
The latest satellite imagery, as noted in recent discussions on X, shows the retired Tu-142Ms parked in a forested area at INS Rajali, distant from the base’s main runway—the longest military runway in Asia. This placement in a clearing, rather than near operational facilities or a designated display area, indicates that the Navy has no plans to move these aircraft for public viewing or preservation in the near term. Posts on X, including one from April 15, 2025, lament the state of these “defunct pieces,” noting that only one airworthy frame remains at INS Rajali, though it is not in regular use.
The decision to park the aircraft in a remote clearing may reflect logistical constraints. Each Tu-142M weighs 95 tons and requires significant effort to relocate, as evidenced by the transportation of one aircraft in pieces on 16 trucks to Kolkata’s Naval Aircraft Museum in 2020. The cost and complexity of moving these giants, combined with INS Rajali’s primary focus on active operations with P-8I Poseidons and helicopter training, likely explain their current obscurity.
The Tu-142M’s historical significance makes its relegation to a forest clearing particularly striking. Two aircraft have been preserved in museums: one at the TU 142 Aircraft Museum in Visakhapatnam, inaugurated in 2017 at a cost of ?14 crore, and another at the Naval Aircraft Museum in Kolkata, opened in 2022. These efforts highlight the public interest in preserving the Albatross as a symbol of India’s naval heritage. However, the remaining aircraft at INS Rajali appear destined to deteriorate, with no clear plans for relocation to parks, museums, or other public spaces.
The MoD and Indian Navy could draw inspiration from global examples, such as the preservation of retired military aircraft in aviation museums or public parks. The cost of maintaining these aircraft in outdoor conditions is a concern, but partnerships with state governments, as seen in Visakhapatnam and Kolkata, could fund additional preservation projects. Alternatively, repurposing the airframes for training or educational displays at INS Rajali itself could keep their legacy alive without requiring relocation.
The Tu-142M was more than a machine; it was a “flying destroyer,” equipped with advanced sensors like the Korshun-K automatic search system and capable of carrying 12 torpedoes, bombs, and depth charges. Its role in securing India’s 5,422-km coastline and 2.01 million sq km Exclusive Economic Zone was critical, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region. The aircraft’s retirement marked the end of an era, but its contributions to operations like Operation Cactus—where it tracked fleeing mercenaries—cemented its place in naval history.
Public sentiment, as reflected on X, expresses disappointment over the neglect of these aircraft. The Tu-142Ms, once the pride of INAS 312, risk fading into obscurity unless proactive steps are taken to preserve them.
Without action, the Tu-142Ms risk becoming relics lost to time, their legacy confined to satellite images of a forest clearing. The Indian Navy, which celebrated INS Rajali’s silver jubilee in 2017, has an opportunity to honor the Albatross by ensuring these giants inspire future generations.
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