Article Posted on : - Aug 23, 2012

JODHPUR (PTI): Indian Air Force will deploy medium power radars and advanced helicopters in the western sector in order to strengthen its preparedness along the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan.

While Jodhpur airbase will soon have a squadron of transport helicopters Mi-17 V5, medium power radars would also be deployed at Jaisalmer airbase, Air Marshal Anjan Kumar Gogoi, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South-Western Air command, said at a press conference here.

Gogoi said that the new squadron at Phalodi will be ready by October this year.

Admitting that the SW air command has shortage of transport aircraft, he said that it will also be looked into.

The Air Marshal also informed that Deesa airbase in north Gujarat will soon become a training-cum-operational base.

About the Air Force show to be held in February next year in Pokharan firing range in Jaisalmer, he said that Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will display its capabilities for the first time.

Apart from that, about 100 planes of different varieties would display their power capabilities in the firepower demonstration event.

Commenting on the recent attack on the Kamra air base in Pakistan, Gogoi said such attacks were not possible without the help of insiders.

He, however, expressed confidence that India's airbases were fully secure.

Kamra air base in Pakistan's Punjab province was attacked by a group of heavy-armed terrorists last week.