Screaming Skull
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26 May 2009,
GUWAHATI: IAF's Tezpur base will soon get Sukhoi fighter planes as part of its upgradation plans to meet challenges from China.
Sources said the newly-raised squadron of Su-30 MKI will arrive at the renovated base after June 15 when the renovated runway becomes operational.
This will be the first batch of Su-30MKI fighters to be deployed near the disputed Sino-Indian border in the north-eastern sector of the Eastern Air Command. Earlier, the Tezpur base housed a squadron of MIG 21 which was shifted to Chabua in 2007.
A source said the Su-30MKI is likely to be fitted with air-to-ground Brahmos missile with more than 900 combat radius enabling it to strike all major cities in southwest China.
Defence sources said the induction of Su-30MKI would greatly tilt the balance in favour of India in view of China's superior ground troops in the sector.
Spread over 21 acre, the Tezpur airbase was put under repair after the MiG-21s were shifted to Chabua. The infrastructure has also been upgraded. "The renovated runway is likely to be inaugurated by mid-June for inducting the Su-30MKI squadron," said Tezpur-based defence spokesman Col R Kalia.
Located less than 350 km from the McMohan Line that divides India and China, the air base was made a MiG-operational flying unit for training young officers before they were commissioned as full-fledged pilots as tension between India and China eased after 1970.
Sources said India has strategic air bases at Baghdogra, Hashimara and Cooch Behar to counter China. Other important bases in this sector are located in Chabua, Guwahati, Jorhat, Kalaikunda and Agartala.
Tezpur base soon to get Sukhois - Guwahati - Cities - The Times of India