With Pakistan getting new F-16s from US and JF-17 'Thunder' jets from China, IAF now has plans to progressively deploy its most potent Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters on the western front.
This comes after IAF identified Tezpur and other bases in the North -East to also base the multi-role Sukhoi 30 MKIs as a safeguard on the eastern front against China, which has gone in for a massive upgrade of airbases in Tibet and other areas near the Line of Actual Control.
At present, IAF has just about 60 of the 230 Sukhoi- 30 MKI fighters contracted from Russia at an overall cost of #8.5 billion.
India has so far based its Sukhoi's which can be jury-rigged to carry nuclear bombs-only at Pune, Jodhpur and Bareilly, though they have operated from as diverse places as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The basing of Sukhois at new bases will, of course require new infrastructure.
The name is significant since the Sukhois, which have a cruising speed of 3,200 km and can carry eight tonne of armaments, can strike targets deep inside China after taking off from Tezpur.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment