| INS Utkrosh | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: none – ICAO: VOPB | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Naval Air Station | ||
| Operator | Indian Navy | ||
| Location | Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 14 ft / 4 m | ||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| m | ft | ||
| 04/22 | 3,290 | 10,795 | Asphalt |
| Source: DAFIF | |||
INS Utkrosh (IATA: N/A, ICAO: VOPB), is an Indian naval air station located near Port Blair in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.[1]
The airfield at Port Blair was transferred from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to the Indian Navy on 9 March 1984.[2] It was initially commissioned as INS Jarawa II.
On 11 May 1985, the air station was formally commisioned as INS Utkrosh by then Prime Minister of India, P. V. Narasimha Rao. It is named for a bird of prey that is sacred to the native Jarawa tribe of the islands. Its location makes it an important strategic station for protecting India's maritime interests in the Bay of Bengal. It also serves as an important facility for undertaking humanitarian operations, such as evacuation in case of medical emergencies from the remote islands.
The facilities at INS Utkrosh have been significantly upgraded. The runway has been lengthened to almost 11,000 feet (3,400 m).[3]
Indian Naval Air Squadrons based at INS Utkrosh include: