The Indian Navy has deinducted the legendary long range reconnaisance aircraft TU 142 M from service after about 29 years of seamless operation. At a function held at the premier naval airstation INS Rajali at Arakkonam off Chennai, the Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba inducted the modern patrol aircraft P8I developed by Boeing in place of the TU142M. <br/><br/>He also kickstarted the silver jubilee celebrations of the airbase. He recalled the remarkable service rendered by the legendary aircraft including during the IPKF operations in Srilanka and the Operation Cactus in the Maldives, and appreciated the airstation for its professional transformation in keeping with the technological changes. <br/><br/>Later, addressing the media, Admiral Sunil Lanba said eight P8I aircraft have so far been inducted into the Navy and four more are expected to arrive in the next couple of years. On the induction of the naval variant of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft LCA, he said its current version does not fully meet the requirements for operation from an aircraft carrier and modifications have been suggested. <br/><br/>As the next aircraft carrier for Indian Navy is under construction and is set to sail by 2019, "Request For Interest" for procuring new aircrft has been floated to meet the need. However, he reiterated the Navy's commitment for indigenization and said its officials are working together with the Defence Research and Development Organization for developing naval systems. <br/><br/>Admiral Lanba said the Chinese submarines have been found to be deployed in the Indian Ocean six times in the last four years and Indian Navy continues to closely monitor such movements. He informed that under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative by India and the US, both the countries have formed their special teams to work on jointly developing a modern aircraft carrier and interactions have already begun. <br/><br/>When asked about induction of women officers, he said over 500 of them are now functional in certain units of the Navy including flying units. He said it is being considered whether they could be deployed in combat ships as well.