After 30 years of glorious service, Indian Navy's iconic Sea Harriers fighter planes decommissioned today

Sea Harriers

Panaji: The Iconic Sea Harriers were decommissioned from the Indian Navy on Wednesday marking the end of an era in India's naval history, with an official ceremony phasing out the last of its iconic Sea Harrier jets.

The Harriers have been replaced by a squadron of Russian MiG 29k jets during an official  ceremony held at INS Hansa base in Vasco at Goa.

Admiral RK Dhowan, chief of the Naval Staff, was the Chief Guest for the ceremony.

The All India Radio tweeted some pictures of the iconic jets.

Pics of #SeaHarriers of Indian Navy as they are de-inducted today at a Ceremony at Hansa Naval Base in Goa. pic.twitter.com/CZtowzOI5J

— AIR Defence Alerts (@airdefencenews) May 11, 2016

In a statement, Indian Navy had said earlier that its usage in the Falklands War was its most high-profile and important success, where it was the only fixed-wing fighter available to protect the British Task Force.

The aircraft, developed by the British in the 1960s, are best known for the ability to take off and land vertically, and for being the only class of jet that can hover like a helicopter.

The Sea Harrier was used by the British during the Falklands War, both Gulf Wars, and during the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The retired aircraft will be put on display in museums.

(Source :zeenews.india.com)

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