INS Parundu

The Navy commissioned a forward operating base, Rajali II, as naval air station INS Parundu at Uchipuli, Tamil Nadu on March 26 2009. The base, with a 3000 ft runway, is a former WW2 air station has been hosting Islander, Dornier and Chetak aircrafts. The Navy has since upgraded the base to operate larger aircraft along with dedicated facilities to operate UAV's. The Navy started operations from this airfield in 1982 to monitor ethnic disturbances in Sri Lanka. The station was re-designated as Rajali II on June 01, 1997.