IAF goes for major Solmara upgradation

Tezpur, Assam, Sep 3 (UNI) With the defence ministry looking to upgrade its air fleet, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to go for major expansion and upgradation of the Solmara airbase here to counter any threat perception.

Defence PRO of the 4 Corps Lt Col Narendra Singh said here today, ''Eastern Air Command (EAC) Commander-in-Chief P K Borbora will be flying the last sorties in a ceremonial function at the airbase of Solmara (Tezpur) before stopping operations for at least two years.'' Both the army and IAF made special arrangements as the Solmara airbase remains one of the biggest hubs of the MiG 21 since its induction in the early sixties.

The Solmara air base upgradation was considered to be of utmost importance, as India has embarked on a major effort to boost air defences on the eastern front by adding new fighter jets to its fleet, a top air force commander said.

The plans include moving two squadrons or 36 state-of-the-art Russian-built Sukhoi-30 aircrafts to an airbase in the east, adding advanced helicopters, strengthening runways and upgrading other air force facilities.

''The perception of east India has changed and our defences are at their peak to meet any exigencies,'' the officer said.

The Solmara airbase also houses a civilian wing with Indian Airlines operating flights once in a fortnight to Tezpur from Kolkata.

For this period IAF will operate from Roroiah at Jorhat and Borrjhar at Guwahati. Both Roroiah and Borjhar are actually supply base feeding the army personnel posted in the advance camps.

Besides introducing the Sukhois to the NE airbase of Tezpur, the Indian air force would also add new combat helicopters and station some of the 126 fighter jets it is due to float bids to buy, said the officer.

The Eastern Air Command (EAC) was first raised at Rani Kutir in Kolkata. Then it was shifted to Tezpur in 1963. By the end of 1963, the HQ was shifted to Shillong (Meghalaya). EAC controls air operations in the eastern sector which includes West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram and the other eastern states bordering Bangladesh, Burma and Tibet.

Eastern Air Command (EAC) features permanent airbases at Chabua, Guwahati, Bagdogra, Barrackpore, Hashmira, Jorhat, Kalaikunda and Tezpur with forward airbases at Agartala, Kolkatta, Panagarh and Shillong.

EAC features AD squadrons consisting of the MiG-21 and ground attack squadrons consisting of the MiG-27.

UNI