IAF inducts first batch of Sukhoi-30MKI fighters at AFS Tezpur

New Delhi: Providing a major boost to its defences along the Sino-Indian border in the country's north-east, four frontline Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30 MKI combat jets landed at Air Force Station Tezpur in Assam on Friday. This was confirmed by defence ministry sources.

These aircraft would be formally inducted into service on 15 June, and the strength of the squadron would eventually be brought up to 18 aircraft.

Air Force Station Tezpur, in northern Assam is likely to be developed as a major hub for the Sukhoi-30MKI fighters. Renovation of the IAF base here has already been completed and the first batch of Sukhoi fighters has now arrived.

It will be formally re-opened on 15 June, making it the third dedicated Su-30MKI airbase in the country after Pune and Bareilly. 

Currently, India operates five squadrons of this Russian-built fighter aircraft with three squadrons stationed at Lohegaon in Pune and two in Bareilly. Each squadron operates 18-20 aircraft.

The IAF plans to increase the strength of its Sukhoi fleet to nearly 200 over the next five years.

As of now five bases in the eastern and north-eastern parts of the country, including Tezpur, Chabua, Jorhat (Assam), Panagarh (West Bengal) and Purnea (Bihar), are due for upgrades. Apart from creating other facilities the upgrades will also include expansion of the airfield runways from 9,000 to 11,000 feet, IAF officials have said.

Till 2007, Tezpur was an important training base for young officers graduating to MiG21 aircraft. It is also the headquarters for the Indian Army's Four Corps, responsible for operations in Arunachal Pradesh.

Locating a Su-30MKI squadron in Assam is part of the policy of the Indian armed forces to enhance capacities along the Sino-Indian border. The army has also announced its intention to boost its numbers in Arunachal Pradesh by locating two additional divisions in this far flung region. These divisions shall be fresh raisings.

The Chinese border is barely 150km from Tezpur.

These moves, somewhat belated, are being made even as China has already completed massive infrastructure upgrades and constructions all along the north-east border. Recent statements by defence sources indicated that Chinese incursions into parts of Arunachal Pradesh reached an all time high in 2008.

Ever since its invasion and illegal occupation of Tibet, China has laid claims to all of Arunachal Pradesh. In 1962 it had tried to move towards Tezpur after occupying the frontier towns of Tawang and Bomdi La.

The IAF has also announced plans to station Su-30MKIs at Chabua in Assam, Halwara in Punjab and Jodhpur in Rajasthan. 

Mum's the word on China

Meanwhile, Indian defence minister AK Antony has apparently issued a dictat silencing senior officers from the Indian defence services from speaking about China and the enhanced threat perception that this country faces from the communist nation.

Recently, a spate of comments from senior officers of the defence services had sought to highlight the enhanced level of threat posed by China. The comments, it appears, rattled the Chinese sufficiently for the Chinese army deputy chief of general staff, Lt Gen Ma Xiaotian,  to bring up the matter with an Indian delegation attending the Shangri La dialogue in Singapore last month. The delegation included Indian navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta and defence secretary, Vijay Singh.

The Chinese army officer accused the Indian side of sabre-rattling.