IAF Statement: The Su-30 aircraft was formally inducted at Air Force Station Tezpur today in a symbolic ceremony presided over by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal SK Bhan PVSM AVSM VM. Air Commodore TK Nair, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station Tezpur and other senior Air Force officers, Army officers and civil dignitaries were also present on the rain soaked Tezpur airfield on the occasion.
Tezpur airfield was constructed by the British Royal Indian Air Force in 1942, during Second World War. It subsequently developed into a full fledged Air Force base in the year 1959. It lies between Bhutan, Tibet, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Ever since its inception, it has been one of the most active bases in North-East from where a variety of fixed and rotary wing aircraft have been operating.
The first aircraft that flew from this base were Vampires and Toofanis. 101 Reconnaissance Squadron with Vampire aircraft and 4 Squadron with Toofanis were the first Squadrons to be located at this base. Subsequently came 29 Sqn (Toofani), 37 Sqn (Hunter), 4 Sqn (MiG-21), 8 Sqn (MiG-21) 28 Sqn (MiG-21), 24 Sqn (Gnats), 110 HU (Mi-4 helicopters), 30 Sqn (MiG-21), MOFTU (MiG Operational Flying Training Unit) with MiG-21s and 115 HU (Cheetah / Chetak helicopters). For the last 25 years this base had been home to the MiG-21 fleet which was used extensively to train rookie pilots for the Indian Air Force, most of whom fondly remember their days spent in Tezpur. In Sep 2007, fighter operations were discontinued at the base to facilitate extensive runway repairs and extension. The work having been completed, the station has formally inducted its first SU-30 MKI aircraft.
The SU-30 MKI aircraft is a twin cockpit multi- role all-weather, air superiority fighter with air – to – air refueling capability. The aircraft, now being manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (Nasik), was originally designed and developed in Russia. The Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1997 and since then, the aircraft has been upgraded to suit IAF requirements.
The civil air operations that were discontinued in 2007, will resume soon enabling the civil population of this region to travel to other regions of the country by air.
any idea which Squadron?
Hi Shiv,
Two troubling things :
1. The Tezpur AFB is in response to the growing chinese threat in Arunachal. With that being said, why is it located in Assam? If we wanted to make a statement wouldnt we have built something in Arunachal?
2. The doubling of IA strength in Arunachal that was publicized a few days ago was also, troublingly, in divisions stationed out of Assam. Not Arunachal.
Looks like the GoI is very scared about truly increasing military presence in Arunachal. What they want to do as an alternative is to station our military around Arunachal but not in Arunachal. It almost feels like we are scared to do anything decisive in Arunachal !
Hi, shiv
Thats cool picture….
This is very historic ceremony for IAF's eastern command. From Tezpur AFB, IAF will able to keep a nab on Chinese military.
There is some news that Army will deploy around 35,000 troops and build new underground launch facility for Agni-II or Agni-III north- east sector.
Serial No. of two sukhoi i.e SB052 & SB122 are clearly seen in the photo, but the serial No. of the nose forwarding sukhoi is not clearly obserbed.Any one know the serial no. of two remaining sukhoi?
If i am not wrong,russian made sukhoi's serial no. ends upto SB050,but from where that SB052 come into existence ?
Finally India seems to have understood the enormity of the situation in the north-east bordering China.
However one or two squadrons of SU-30MKI is not enough to stop the Chinese from adventurism. Their military doctrine dictates overwhelming strength and superiority in numbers. They normally smother their adversaries with their greater numbers and fire power.
India should also adjust its doctrine of engagement to deter any form of aggression from the Chinese.
India should not be caught off guard as in the early 1960s. India should be well prepared not only to repulse aggression but also to give any adventurer a bloody nose that they won't forget for a very long time.
Nice move, but will this have any meaningful impact in curbing the Chinese incursions or their sabre-rattling? I doubt… because what is required to counter the Chinese aggression is not more weapons, BUT the BALLS to use those weapons as and when required.
Sadly, nothing seems to have changed since the 1962 debacle. The Indian military & politicians still exhibit the same spineless-ness which they did 40 years back. Didn't we have an airforce back in '62? Was it used in the conflict? So what's the guarantee that these Sukhois will also be used in the next conflict with China?
I feel like puking when I read in reports how our army & politicians are 'voicing concern' about Chinese incursions in Arunachal instead of taking action. What's frustrating is that though Nehru is long gone his cowardly blood is still around.
The Chinese must be laughing at the reports of the SU base in Tezpur. For them this development is nothing but a minor fart from the Indians — all sound and gas!
Shiv, can you please find out whts the state of our own indigenous light combat helicopter. It was scheduled to fly in july 2009 only. will we meet the deadline?
Sorry to post it here. as therre were np ther forums
SB052 could belong to the final lot of 40 Sukhois that were ordered in 2007. Can anyone confirm if Russia has started delivering them. Alternatively it could belong to Su30K replacements that were also asked for.
sukhoi from russia will come 2010 onwards if i am not wrong i think it is hal assembled jet
hal assembled jet are numbered 101 onwards.
Can we know how many Su-30 MKI aircraft have been deployed at Tezpur? Putting just one squadron (20 aircraft) as a symbolic defence is not going to work 🙁
Hi, Mayyresh
IAF's has planned to deploy two SU-30MKI sq. [36 aircraft]at Tezpur. In which one sq. will be a completely new assembled at HAL and other is from Rhinos sq. from pune.
Shifting the fighters from one part to another part makes nothing difference , We need to make or buy advance fighters in fastrack to have edge with chinese , our defense decision makers should have patriotic move , india is far beyond to china in all aspects . we worry about india's unpreparedness .