War flight Tupolev-TU 142 M to become defence museum

War flight Tupolev-TU 142 M, the anti-submarine warfare aircraft of Indian Navy, will be converted to a defence museum in Hyderabad.

Telangana State Tourism Department in association with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is planning to establish the defence museum in Hyderabad where defence related labs and missiles would be exhibited for the public.

B Venkatesham , Telangana Tourism Department Secretary, wrote a letter to the defence authorities requesting them to facilitate a war fighter and submarine to display at the museum.

As per the plans, the officials approached DRDO Chairman Dr Satish Reddy, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and the Naval personnel and requested to facilitate a war flight Tupolev-TU 142 M, aircraft to make it a museum.

The Tu-142M is a long-range anti-submarine and reconnaissance aircraft designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau and manufactured by the Kuibyshev Aviation and Taganrog Machinery plants. The aircraft is developed to provide improved naval combat capabilities. It can be deployed primarily in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations, maritime reconnaissance and low-range patrol runs.

The aircraft have been in service with the Indian Navy’s 312nd squadron (INAS 312) since 1988 and are deployed in anti-submarine warfare and patrol missions across the Indian Ocean. A total of eight Tupolev-142 M’s were part of all major naval exercises and operations of Indian Navy.

The aircraft have decommissioned on March 29, 2017 and replaced by 12 P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft of Boeing, which are equipped with harpoon anti-ship missiles, lightweight torpedoes, rockets and new generation sensors and radars.

The objective of the museum is to promote the knowledge to the people on the activities of the Indian navy and its service to the nation. The department of Tourism is planning to demonstrate the museum in coordination with DRDO which would encourage a lot of youngsters to join the defence.