---
title: "EXCLUSIVE: Navy’s MiG-29K Squadron To Be Called “Black Panthers”"
url: https://www.livefistdefence.com/exclusive-mig-29k-squadron-to-be-called/
date: 2009-08-28
modified: 2016-05-17
lang: en
author: "Team Livefist"
description: "The Navy's brand new INAS 303 squadron is being christened \"Black Panthers\" and will get its first four MiG-29Ks in late October or early November. The squadron emblem (to the..."
categories:
  - "Aircraft And Helicopters"
  - "LiveFist Exclusive"
  - "Military History"
  - "Navy"
  - "Photographs"
  - "RUSSIA-RELATED"
  - "Uncategorized"
  - "Warships And Submarines"
image: https://www.livefistdefence.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/tiger.jpg
word_count: 175
---

# EXCLUSIVE: Navy’s MiG-29K Squadron To Be Called “Black Panthers”

[![](https://www.livefistdefence.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/tiger.jpg)](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o_no4M2xEPY/Spe1y8Z5EuI/AAAAAAAAIBM/2oZo20NJEzU/s1600-h/tiger.JPG) The Navy's brand new **INAS 303** squadron is being christened "**Black Panthers**" and will get its first four MiG-29Ks in late October or early November. The squadron emblem (to the right) will be painted on the tails of all the MiG-29Ks -- a snarling Black Panther, with a red mouth and nose, and yellow eyes. According to sources, there had been talk of naming the squadron "Sea Wolves", though the Navy finally took a call to name the squadron after a big cat, like the *White Tigers *squadron is.

Sources at Naval HQ indicate that **Commander Theophilus **is tipped to take over as the first Commanding Officer of the Black Panthers squadron. Cdr Theophilus currently heads the Intensive Flying & Testing Unit (IFTU) that has been raised in anticipation of the MiG-29K.

The contract for 16 MiG-29K jets was signed with RAC-MiG on Jan 20, 2004 for $740.35-million, with an agreed delivery commencement date of June 2007 (more than two years late, as usual). More details on the Indian Navy's preparations for the MiG-29K soon on **LiveFist**.