ID :
73002
Thu, 07/30/2009 - 21:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/73002
The shortlink copeid
Sukhoi deployment in Tezpur hit by inadequate infrastructure
New Delhi, July 30 (PTI) India's plans to bolster its
military strength along the border with China by deploying its
potent Sukhoi fighter jets in Tezpur have been badly hit due
to poor infrastructure at the front line airbase.
"Tezpur's infrastructure is inadequate to deploy and
operate the heavier Su-30MKIs. The infrastructure development
plan for the airbase in Assam is awaiting a nod from the
Cabinet Committee on Security," a top IAF officer told PTI
here Thursday.
The plan includes strengthening the tarmac of the airbase,
which had till recently operated only MiG-21 variants, so that
it can handle the Russian-origin Sukhoi air superiority
multi-role fighters, the officer said.
India had on June 15 formally inducted four Su-30MKIs in
Tezpur, located in India's north-eastern state of Assam, in
anticipation of having a full squadron of 18 Sukhois at the
airbase this year.
But now the plans have been postponed till mid 2010, when
the infrastructure project would be completed, the officer
said, adding the full squadron currently based in Lohegaon
near Pune will move to Tezpur only then.
The slow delivery of SU-30MKIs by Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL) has also contributed to the delay in deploying
the squadron in Tezpur.
The IAF officer said the Air Force had two years ago asked
HAL to increase Sukhoi's rate of production to 18 aircraft a
year instead of the then rate of 14 aircraft.
The IAF is showing urgency in the matter as it plans to
have new Sukhoi bases in the east and north of the country. It
has identified Chabua in Assam, Halwara in Punjab and Jodhpur
in Rajasthan as the new airbases to operate Sukhois from 2010.
At present, the IAF has five Sukhoi squadrons in two
Sukhoi bases in Lohegaon, which is the home base for the
aircraft where all squadrons are raised and rookie pilots are
trained, and Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.
The IAF currently has about 100 Sukhois in its fleet out
of the 230 that it contracted from Russia for USD 8.5 billion,
under which 140 of the aircraft would be manufactured by HAL
through technology transfer.
HAL would also produce 40 more of these fighters undera
fast-track procurement order for USD 1.6 billion placed two
years ago. The first of these 40 Sukhois would roll out from
2011, the officer said.
Defence Minister A K Antony had recently informed
Parliament that IAF would have a 230-strong fleet of Sukhois
by 2015. PTI
military strength along the border with China by deploying its
potent Sukhoi fighter jets in Tezpur have been badly hit due
to poor infrastructure at the front line airbase.
"Tezpur's infrastructure is inadequate to deploy and
operate the heavier Su-30MKIs. The infrastructure development
plan for the airbase in Assam is awaiting a nod from the
Cabinet Committee on Security," a top IAF officer told PTI
here Thursday.
The plan includes strengthening the tarmac of the airbase,
which had till recently operated only MiG-21 variants, so that
it can handle the Russian-origin Sukhoi air superiority
multi-role fighters, the officer said.
India had on June 15 formally inducted four Su-30MKIs in
Tezpur, located in India's north-eastern state of Assam, in
anticipation of having a full squadron of 18 Sukhois at the
airbase this year.
But now the plans have been postponed till mid 2010, when
the infrastructure project would be completed, the officer
said, adding the full squadron currently based in Lohegaon
near Pune will move to Tezpur only then.
The slow delivery of SU-30MKIs by Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL) has also contributed to the delay in deploying
the squadron in Tezpur.
The IAF officer said the Air Force had two years ago asked
HAL to increase Sukhoi's rate of production to 18 aircraft a
year instead of the then rate of 14 aircraft.
The IAF is showing urgency in the matter as it plans to
have new Sukhoi bases in the east and north of the country. It
has identified Chabua in Assam, Halwara in Punjab and Jodhpur
in Rajasthan as the new airbases to operate Sukhois from 2010.
At present, the IAF has five Sukhoi squadrons in two
Sukhoi bases in Lohegaon, which is the home base for the
aircraft where all squadrons are raised and rookie pilots are
trained, and Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.
The IAF currently has about 100 Sukhois in its fleet out
of the 230 that it contracted from Russia for USD 8.5 billion,
under which 140 of the aircraft would be manufactured by HAL
through technology transfer.
HAL would also produce 40 more of these fighters undera
fast-track procurement order for USD 1.6 billion placed two
years ago. The first of these 40 Sukhois would roll out from
2011, the officer said.
Defence Minister A K Antony had recently informed
Parliament that IAF would have a 230-strong fleet of Sukhois
by 2015. PTI
