Article Posted on : - Oct 05, 2009

A File Photo of IAF Su-30MKI at an airbase in India

NEW DELHI (PTI): The IAF will provide more teeth to its fleet along the Indo-Pak border by ramping up its all-round capabilities in Punjab with induction of new fighter squadrons, including Sukhois, and air defence radars.

The IAF's sword-arm Western Air Command (WAC) is preparing to host two squadrons with 4.5-generation Sukhois at the Halwara fighter base near Ludhiana within two years from now.

It will also base all three squadrons flying the fourth generation MiG-29 air superiority fighters in Punjab to improve its air strike capabilities.

In addition to these fighter jets, the IAF will deploy indigenously developed and manufactured Rohini Radars from the DRDO and BEL in Punjab, apart from three Active Phased Array Radars there to make the air defence surveillance robust.

“We will get the first of the Su-30 squadrons to be based under the WAC by 2011 at the Halwara air base,” a senior IAF officer said.

The IAF has already started the work to develop the infrastructure for deploying the squadrons with the most potent fighter aircraft in its fleet at the air base, which hosted the MiG-23BN squadrons till March this year.

“We have started developing infrastructure for the Su-30 MKIs' deployment there. Work on the runway and other facilities has started and it’s going to be fully prepared for the aircraft in the next two years,” the officer said.