Aircraft and helicopters of the Indian Navy played a crucial role in establishing control over the sea between the southern shores of India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Foremost among these were Tupolev Tu-142MK-Es: the first three out of an eventual eight (all second-hand but overhauled examples) were delivered only in March 1988, and this was thus their first active operation. All the Tu-142MK-Es were operated by Indian Navy Squadron (INAS) 312, the crest of which is shown as an inset, originally based at the Naval Air Station at Dabolim. They were painted in mid-grey overall, but had the leading edges of their wings and horizontal fins, and the spinners, left in bare metal overall. National insignia was applied in six positions: on the rear fuselage this was followed by the service title (in English on the port side and Hindi on the starboard) and the individual serial number, the last two figures of which were repeated below the cockpit. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)