Indian Naval Ship Dega, was commissioned into the #IndianNavy on 21 October 1991. Naval flying operations were heralded on the eastern seaboard with the formation of a Helicopter Flight at INS Circars on 23 December 1972. Four years later, a helipad and hangars were commissioned at the Visakhapatnam airfield and the Flight shifted its operations from the parade ground of INS Circars. Realising the growing importance of the eastern seaboard, the airfield was handed over to the Indian Navy on 12 March 1986 from the erstwhile National Airport Authority and began operating as a Joint User airfield. In order to provide the necessary fillip to air operations, the Air Station was commissioned and christened INS Dega. The Air Station is, today, the fastest growing Air Station of the Indian Navy. With the positioning of Hawk AJT and shifting of Mig-29K multirole fighters in future, combined with the presence of Chetak flight, Dornier, Kamov and UH3H squadrons, the Air Station is poised to spearhead both training and operational needs of the Navy in the near future. The pace of operations at INS Dega has grown manifold over the years with multifarious requirements varying from antipiracy to SAR as well as supporting burgeoning civil flights operations round the clock. The name ‘Dega’ is derived from a Telugu word, which means ‘Eagle’. The crest design depicts an eagle flying in the sky keeping a vigil at sea, which is indicated by White and Blue waves. Best NDA class In Pune ( Dignitary )