The Indian Navy’s three Tupolev Tu-142M long-range maritime patrol aircraft were decommissioned on March 29 after 30,000 hr. of accident-free flying over nearly three decades.

India hopes to launch its much-awaited Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk. 3 heavy rocket carrying the GSAT-1 satellite by May.

An Indian air force Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter crashed March 15 while on a routine training sortie. Both pilots ejected safely.