INAS 342

INAS 342 (Indian Naval Air Squadron 342) is an aviation squadron of the Indian Navy, operating unmanned aerial vehicles. It is based at INS Garuda, Kochi.

INAS 342 has 12 Israeli-built Herons and Searcher Mark IIs UAVs. The Searcher is a third-generation UAV. The Searcher MkII has a cruise speed of about 100 knots, a service ceiling of 20,000 feet and an 18-hour endurance. The Heron can touch speeds of over 100 knots with a service ceiling of 30,000 feet and an endurance of 40 hours.

Heron is the bigger version of Searcher MKII and has a wingspan of about 16 metres. The Searcher carries a modern and sophisticated electro optic camera and a communication intelligence payload. Heron is equipped with a maritime patrol radar. Both the UAVs have long endurance capabilities, can operate before and after sunset and beam real time live pictures of maritime targets.

This Squadron is based at INS Garuda. INS Garuda is a military airport belonging to Indian Navy, located in Willingdon Island, Kochi, India. This was the first naval air station of Indian Navy's air division, commissioned in 11 May 1953. The naval airport is part of Cochin Naval Base which serves as the headquarters of the Southern Naval Command. INS Garuda is a major naval air instructional center and an operational base for several naval squadrons.