Ex-Navy chief Admiral Tahiliani is dead

Former Indian Navy chief Admiral Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani passed away on Wednesday, an official statement said.

Born on May 12, 1930, Tahiliani joined the navy in 1950 and served as the 11th Chief of Naval Staff from December 1984 to November 1987.

A graduate of the French Test Pilot School and an outstanding pilot, he was the first to land on the deck of INS Vikrant on a Sea Hawk fighter on May 18, 1961, ushering carrier based aviation into the Indian Navy.

The Admiral had commanded the carrier borne squadron INAS 300 during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

He had also command of the INS Trishul and the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

"The 'Greyest of the Grey Eagles' is an apt expression to sum up Admiral Tahiliani's seminal and vast experience as a stupendous naval aviator. His exemplary vision catapulted the Naval Air Arm to where it is today," the statement said.

"He was instrumental in the procurement of the second aircraft carrier INS Viraat along with its fighter complement of Sea Harrier aircraft," it added.