Indian Navy Ilyushin Il-38SD preserved

With the delivery of the first Boeing P-8I Poseidon to Indian Naval Air Squadron 315 Winged Stallion at Goa/Dabolim (INS Hansa), the Indian Navy started to withdraw the vintage Ilyushin 38SD Sea Dragon from operational service.

Although the Ilyushin 38s are not used on a regular basis, the Scramble Magazine database still shows four Sea Dragons (IN301, IN303, IN306 and IN307) as active. It might be that some have already been withdrawn from use.

The fifth Sea Dragon, serial IN305 and coded DAB, was last noted active in June 2018. In March 2020, the Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft was put on display at Goa/Dabolim (INS Hansa).

In total four P-8I Poseidons will join INAS315. We have not yet seen the other three aircraft reported at the Boeing factory in Seattle (WA). Delivery schedule remains unknown.

The Il-38 was inducted into service from 1977 onwards and five aircraft were procured till 1983. In October 2002, the Indian Navy lost IN302 and IN304 in a mid-air collision above the Dabolim airport in Goa. Two ex Russian Navy Il-38s were added to the squadron in December 2009 and February 2010 as IN306 and IN307.

Photo: Indian Navy