Squadron No. 6New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) INS Vikramaditya, the largestnavy ship and the country's only aircraft carrier, has beenformally affiliated to the Bihar Regiment, a highly-decoratedinfantry unit of the Army, and Squadron No. 6 of the IndianAir Force, the Navy said today.
The squadron specialises in maritime strike operationsand operates the Jaguar fighter aircraft, it said.
A glittering ceremony was held onboard INS Vikramadityain the Karwar naval base which is nestled in the picturesqueWestern Ghats, it said.
Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, and Lieutenant General AmarjeetSingh, Military Secretary and Colonel of the Bihar Regiment,were the guests of honour.
Air Vice Marshal M Fernandez, Air Officer commandingmaritime air operations, was the senior officer from the AirForce and the event also saw participation by a host of seniorofficers from all the three services, the statement said.
The historic affiliation ceremony commenced with aninspection of the tri-service guard of honour by the seniorofficers of the three services and Rear Admiral R B Pandit,the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, addressed themeeting.
In his address, Pandit spoke of the importance of theaffiliation and its relevance in the present day, according toa statement.
He also said the idea behind the affiliation was tofoster espirit-de-corps and friendship between the three unitsthat would lead to greater synergy and jointmanship betweenthe three services, the Navy added.
It would also promote interaction between personnel ofthe three services and their families, he said.
The formal association between the three units commencedwith the reading of the "Charter of Affiliation", which listedthe aims of the affiliation that the affiliated units were tomaintain.
It was later signed by the commanding officers of thethree units and by senior officers from respective servicesrepresenting the unit, the Navy said.
The highlight of the event was an impressive flypast byaircraft of the Fleet Air Arm and it was led by a formation ofChetak helicopters followed by formation of MiG-29K fightersof the INAS 303 squadron from the Goa based naval air station,INS Hansa, it said. PTI KRSMN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.