Article Posted on : - Dec 19, 2013

LCA Tejas. An Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Outgoing Indian air Force (IAF) chief NAK Browne has reviewed the progress of the Sulur air base where the force is to deploy its first squadron of the indigenously- developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas.

On his last visit to the Southern Air Command in Thiruvananthapuram, Browne also reviewed the preparations being made at Thanjavur air base in Tamil Nadu, which will host the first squadron of Su-30MKI aircraft in southern India to guard the Indian Ocean Region.

"During the visit, the Air Chief reviewed the progress of the first LCA base at Sulur and also the progress of work services at Thanjavur, which will be the next base for Su-30s," the IAF said in a release on Wednesday.

Talking to air force personnel, Browne said, "IAF is going through tremendous changes in terms of induction, modernisation and improvement. We had set very ambitious goals over the last two-and-a-half years and we have been able to achieve each one of them".

In the last three to four years, India has procured a lot of equipment for the Air Force, including the C-17 heavy lift transport aircraft, Pilatus trainer aircraft. The indigenous LCA is to be inducted on December 20.