IAF to ‘populate airfields’ in S. India

New Delhi: The IAF — which has traditionally focused its aerial might to guard India’s western and eastern borders —— will now start focusing on increasing its operational presence in southern India to beef up security for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and also to guard sea-lanes of maritime trade and communication in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Air Force is also likely to seek opening of “defence enclaves” at airports operated by the state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI). “We are going to populate airfields in the South,” said a top defence source, indicating stationing of more fighter aircraft in the southern part of the country as the IAF’s fighter aircraft fleet grows.
Top defence sources said more airfields would be opened across the country including southern India. The IAF is also working towards establishment of a full squadron of Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft at Tezpur in Assam to boost its defence preparedness to guard India’s eastern borders. Even in the Ladakh region, advanced landing grounds have been made operational.
13/08/10 Asian Age

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Categories: airports aug 2010