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Indian Navy's premier maritime patrol and air training base.
Opened
1992
Location
Arakkonam, India
INS Rajali, officially known as Arakkonam Naval Air Station, is a frontline Indian Navy base located near Arakkonam in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, India. Designated with the ICAO code VOAR, it serves as one of the largest naval air stations in Asia and is the primary base for Indian Navy long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
The station is home to several key maritime patrol squadrons and operates aircraft including the Boeing P-8I Poseidon, Boeing 737 surveillance platforms, and the Tupolev Tu-142, which were retired from Indian service in 2022. The base plays a critical strategic role in monitoring the Indian Ocean Region.
As a military installation, INS Rajali is not open to civilian air traffic and has no commercial passenger services. It operates under the administrative and operational command of the Indian Navy.
Getting to & from
Arakkonam town is accessible by road and rail from Chennai, approximately 70 km to the northeast, though the naval base itself has restricted access.
Notable facts
- ›INS Rajali is one of the largest naval air stations in Asia by area.
- ›It is the primary base for Indian Navy P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
- ›The station commissioned the Tu-142 Bear-F long-range patrol aircraft, retired in 2022 after over three decades of service.
- ›The base was commissioned on 11 January 1992.
- ›It falls under the administrative control of the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
