Hercules may replace Gajrajs in Nagpur

Nagpur: The squadron of Russian IL-76 aircraft, dubbed Gajraj by IAF, has been shifted out of Sonegaon base in city. The 44 squadron which had the giant IL-76 transport planes has been moved to Agra for operational convenience.
The Gajrajs may be replaced by American C-130 Hercules at Nagpur. India has purchased six of these aircraft intended to be used for moving special forces. The C-130 is known for its capability to be used in anti-terrorist operations as it can land in improvised or short airfields even without lights. These are the latest addition to the fleet of IAF's transport aircraft which already had transport planes of the IL and AN series acquired from the erstwhile USSR. A final decision on placing Hercules here has not been made yet.
There is another possibility of IAF basing the airborne warning and control systems (AWAC), a hi-tech command and control system mounted on the IL-76 platform, in city. The IAF will be making a choice between the two. The geographical location of the city is the key factor for placing both types of aircraft. Basing the Hercules at Nagpur will enable them to reach any corner of the country in a short time. It was on the same logic that the Gajraj squadron was based here.
The central location will also be beneficial for the AWACs as Nagpur will be a secure base. With this system, the aircraft can fly inside Indian airspace but still be able to see deep into the enemy territory with its radars and other surveillance equipment. Sonegaon already being an IL-76 base can be one of the considerations for bringing in the AWACS. However, given the size of land at Sonegaon, it may not be possible to base both the aircraft here, sources said.
02/09/11 Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Sep 2011