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CHENNAI (PTI): As part of enhancing its resources, the Indian Coast Guard has inducted a HAL-built Chetak helicopter, capable of undertaking various missions including maritime reconnaissance, which will be operating under the operational command of the Coast Guard Air Station here.

"This Chetak Helicopter (CG 820) is a high performance, multi-role, versatile flying machine capable of undertaking various Coast Guard missions such as search-and-rescue, casualty evacuation, maritime reconnaissance, pollution response and aerial photography, besides acting as a lethal platform from the air," a press release here said.

The helicopter, which has been indigenously built by the Hindustan Aeronautical Limited, has been put on "active service" from July 22, it said.

Powered by 550 shaft-horse-power single turbine engine, the helicopter has an endurance of more than two-and-a-half hours with a maximum speed of 103 knots.

It has a crew composition of a pilot, co-pilot and multipurpose aircrew for various missions at sea and is equipped with latest gadgets, including GPS and other communication equipment, the release said.