Indian Navy Appoints First Assistant Chief of Naval Staff

Rear Admiral Srinivas Kanugo assumed office as the first Flag Officer in the newly created post of Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air Materiel) [ACNS(AM)] at the Integrated Headquarters of the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD), Department of Navy, on 17 July 2013.

 The post has been created as the single point of responsibility for all matters related to aviation technical management of the burgeoning air arm of the Indian Navy. The ACNS (AM) will be responsible for planning and co-ordination of new induction air equipment and systems, repair and overhaul of all existing aircraft, aero engines and associated equipment and systems as well as provisioning of air stores.

The air arm of the Indian Navy operates over 200 aircraft with over 20 different types including fighters, fixed wing Maritime Reconnaisance aircraft, helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The air arm, which recently marked its Diamond Jubilee is on the anvil of transformation in capability and size with the induction of potent platforms such as the MiG 29K and Boeing P 8I and the planned induction of a large number of helicopters. Naval aviation is also seeing attendant needs for growth in infrastructure with addition of new air stations like INS Parundu in Ramnathapuram, INS Baaz in Campbell Bay and multiple air enclaves across the country.

Commissioned on 01 Aug 81, Rear Admiral Srinivas Kanugo is an air electrical engineer who has held numerous challenging appointments in ships and air establishments during his near 32 years of commissioned service in the Navy. An alumnus of JNTU College of Engineering, in Anantapur (AP), Admiral Kanugo did his Masters degree from Institute of Armament Technology, Pune. He has held numerous prestigious appointments such as Director, Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology, Kochi; Chief Controller, Naval Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service; Commodore Superintendent, Naval Aircraft Yard (Kochi), Chief Staff Officer (Technical), Headquarters Naval Aviation and Principal Director, Directorate of Naval Air Materiel at IHQ MoD (Navy).

The officer was awarded Vishist Sewa Medal (VSM) in 2013 for his outstanding contribution to the Indian Navy.

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Press Release, July 23, 2013; Image: Indian Navy