Wed Dec 11 17:33:16 UTC 2024: ## Indian Navy Bids Farewell to its Veteran Searcher UAVs
**KOCHI, December 12, 2024** – The Indian Navy officially retired its fleet of Searcher Mk 2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) yesterday evening in a ceremony at INS Garuda. Six Searcher UAVs, acquired from Israel in 2002, concluded their 22 years of service with a final, ceremonial flight.
The sunset ceremony saw the last Searcher Mk 2 land at INS Garuda at 4:40 PM, watched by senior naval officers, personnel from the UAV’s parent squadron INS 342, their families, and other distinguished guests. After a 40-minute flight reaching altitudes of 10,000 feet, the UAV, piloted remotely by Commander Sreekant Bose, performed a graceful landing. Rear Admiral Upal Kundu, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, personally congratulated Commander Bose and the team managing the Advanced Ground Control Station. Retired Commander Rajesh Kawatra, the first Commanding Officer of INS 342, who witnessed the Searcher’s first flight from Garuda, was also present for this historic occasion.
Rear Admiral Kundu highlighted the Searcher’s significant contribution not only to military operations but also to civilian needs. He specifically mentioned the UAV’s crucial role in monitoring the massive Brahmapuram landfill fire in March 2023, providing vital aerial surveillance when helicopters were unable to operate due to heavy smoke. The Searcher’s ability to pinpoint the fire’s origin proved invaluable.
The Searcher UAVs, first deployed in January 2003 after nine months of training in Israel, have become a significant part of Indian naval history, marking a pivotal moment in the adoption of advanced UAV technology. The decommissioning ceremony concluded with traditional naval salutes and cheers, marking the end of an era for these reliable and versatile unmanned aircraft.
First Piper 