The Indian Naval Air Arm is the aviation branch and a fighting arm of the Indian Navy which is tasked to provide an aircraft carrier-based strike capability, fleet air defence, maritime reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare.

The Flag Officer Naval Aviation (FONA) appears to direct the field operations of the air arm.

[11] Vikrant's initial airwing consisted of British Hawker Sea Hawk fighter-bombers and a French Alize anti-submarine aircraft.

On 18 May 1961, the first jet landed on board, piloted by Lieutenant (later Admiral) Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani.

[20] The morning of 4 December 1971, the eight Sea Hawk aircraft on Vikrant launched an air raid on Cox's Bazar from 60 nautical miles (110 km; 69 mi) away.

A PTI message is supposed to have read, "Chittagong harbour ablaze as ships and aircraft of the (Pakistan) Eastern Naval Fleet bombed and rocketed.

It also has much better 'over-the-nose' vision to make it easy to land aboard a carrier at a high angle of attack.

Modifications made for Indian Navy requirement featured Zhuk-ME radar, RD-33MK engine, combat payload up to 5,500 kg (12,100 lb), 13 hardpoints (inclusive of the multi-lock bomb carriers), additional fuel tanks situated in dorsal spine fairing and wing LERXs, increased total fuel capacity by 50% comparing to first variant of MiG-29 and an updated 4-channel digital fly-by-wire flight control system.

Cockpit displays consist of wide HUDs, 3 colour LCD MFDs (7 on the MiG-29KUB), a French Sigma-95 satellite GPS module and Topsight E helmet-mounted targeting system compatible with the full range of weapons carried by the MiG-29M and MiG-29SMT.

[35] New Delhi and Boeing signed a $2.1 billion contract in January 2009 to deliver eight P-8Is for anti-submarine operations, to replace the ageing fleet of Russian-manufactured Tupolev Tu142M planes.

[36] It features communication and other devices on-board that have been indigenously developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

[36] A follow-on order worth over $1 billion for the purchase of four additional P-8Is was signed in July 2016.

The anti-submarine version of the helicopter is fitted with dunking sonar, torpedoes, depth charges.

However, in 2008, the Indian Navy pronounced Dhruv unsuitable for its role as an ASW platform.

During the commissioning ceremony Vice Admiral Sinha said that "In the Navy, Dhruv helicopters have transformed into an advanced search and rescue (SAR) helicopter also used for missions like heliborne operations, and armed patrol with night vision devices.

Such machines in the inventory have become imperative for the Navy given the scenario of low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO) and coastal security construct.

Impressed with the Dhruv's sensors which were able to track ships and also read their names at ranges of 12 to 14 km (7.5 to 8.7 mi).

The Ka-31[49] takes the Kamov capabilities even further by enabling real-time network-centric warfare for the Indian Navy.

Westland Sea King and the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King: Used principally for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and search & rescue roles,[50] the helicopter fleet operate from INS Garuda (Kochi) as well as INS Shikra air stations.

[51] Aérospatiale SA 316 Alouette III: Also known as the Chetak, these choppers have seen active service in the Navy as well as the Coast Guard.

As per the document, the Navy will induct multiple aircraft types over the next two decades which include:[74][75][76] 15 more on order.

Aircraft yards at Kochi, Kerala and Dabolim, Goa are responsible for maintaining the fleet's air arm.

With the commissioning of this station, the country acquired increased capability to keep vigil on the vital maritime channel of the Straits of Malacca.