AFS Panagarh To House IAF's New C-130J Super Hercules Squadron & 80,000 Soldiers of IA's XIV Corps

[Chanakya's_Chant]

Air Force Station Panagarh prepares for C-130Js

Resurfacing of the runway at Air Force Station Panagarh, about 120 km from Kolkata, is expected to be completed by the end of July.​

KOLKATA: Resurfacing of the runway at Air Force Station Panagarh, about 120 km from Kolkata, is expected to be completed by the end of July. The air base, of World War II vintage is being upgraded to meet the requirements of C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft that will start arriving in 2016. Engineers and technicians from Lockheed Martin are also working at the air base to build hangers and other facilities, sources in the Indian Air Force said.

"Restructuring of the runway and allied works at AFS Panagarh was undertaken by PNC Infratech Ltd in 2013. The work is expected to be completed by July 31. The air base will house the second lot of six Super Hercules aircraft that has been ordered by India. These aircraft have been modified to participate in special operations. The aircraft are being stationed at Panagarh keeping in mind the situation in the North East and requirements along India's northern border and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The new mountain division that is being raised will also be headquartered at Panagarh," the source said.

According to a Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) published by the Department of Defense, USA: "The second India case, recently signed, has evolved since its inception. First envisioned as an additional six aircraft amended to the previous case, it is now an independent entity. The Indian Air Force will now stand up a new C-130J squadron at Air Force Station (AFS) Panagarh in West Bengal, located approximately 120 kilometers northwest of Kolkata. Lockheed Martin will be contracted to construct the facilities. AFS Panagarh currently serves as an ammo storage facility and shares its runway with the Panagarh civil airport. Soon, it will also become the home of 80,000 Army troops of the newly formed 14 Corps."

The runway at Panagarh is 2,743 metres long and has been sufficiently strengthened to operate the Super Hercules transport aircraft. The first batch of C-130J aircraft is based at AFS Hindon.

Source:- Air Force Station Panagarh prepares for C-130Js - The Times of India

 

[The Great One]

How many C-130's form a squadron?

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

How many C-130's form a squadron?

Probably Six.

 

[Echo_419]

Air Force Station Panagarh prepares for C-130Js

Resurfacing of the runway at Air Force Station Panagarh, about 120 km from Kolkata, is expected to be completed by the end of July.​

KOLKATA: Resurfacing of the runway at Air Force Station Panagarh, about 120 km from Kolkata, is expected to be completed by the end of July. The air base, of World War II vintage is being upgraded to meet the requirements of C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft that will start arriving in 2016. Engineers and technicians from Lockheed Martin are also working at the air base to build hangers and other facilities, sources in the Indian Air Force said.

"Restructuring of the runway and allied works at AFS Panagarh was undertaken by PNC Infratech Ltd in 2013. The work is expected to be completed by July 31. The air base will house the second lot of six Super Hercules aircraft that has been ordered by India. These aircraft have been modified to participate in special operations. The aircraft are being stationed at Panagarh keeping in mind the situation in the North East and requirements along India's northern border and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The new mountain division that is being raised will also be headquartered at Panagarh," the source said.

According to a Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) published by the Department of Defense, USA: "The second India case, recently signed, has evolved since its inception. First envisioned as an additional six aircraft amended to the previous case, it is now an independent entity. The Indian Air Force will now stand up a new C-130J squadron at Air Force Station (AFS) Panagarh in West Bengal, located approximately 120 kilometers northwest of Kolkata. Lockheed Martin will be contracted to construct the facilities. AFS Panagarh currently serves as an ammo storage facility and shares its runway with the Panagarh civil airport. Soon, it will also become the home of 80,000 Army troops of the newly formed 14 Corps."

The runway at Panagarh is 2,743 metres long and has been sufficiently strengthened to operate the Super Hercules transport aircraft. The first batch of C-130J aircraft is based at AFS Hindon.

Source:- Air Force Station Panagarh prepares for C-130Js - The Times of India

.is this part of the new Mountain stroke corps

 

[nForce]

About Panagarh..they auction used army stuff there scrap material price, used trucks, jeeps, bikes..all kinds of stuff..

They may sell it at scrap price, but the army does good maintenance job, so those things are actually in good shape.
Once me and a friend of mine went there and bought an army Enfield bike together. Old horse, but had enough life left in it. We toured North-East with that thing. It's still there in my home garage..

 

[Spectre]

About Panagarh..they auction used army stuff there scrap material price, used trucks, jeeps, bikes..all kinds of stuff..

They may sell it at scrap price, but the army does good maintenance job, so those things are actually in good shape.
Once me and a friend of mine went there and bought an army Enfield bike together. Old horse, but had enough life left in it. We toured North-East with that thing. It's still there in my home garage..

I have to go there sometime, visit Kolkata quite often. So far only seen Bikaner Base

 

[nForce]

I have to go there sometime, visit Kolkata quite often. So far only seen Bikaner Base

It's far from Kolkata..On the way to Durgapur, G.T. Road, about 100-120 kms from Kolkata.

 

[Spectre]

It's far from Kolkata..On the way to Durgapur, G.T. Road, about 100-120 kms from Kolkata.

That's even closer to my place, as my parents live in Dhanbad.

 

[[Bregs]]

Good deployment for massive transportation of required logistics swiftly

 

[scorpionx]

Apart from its growing strategic importance regarding China, Panagarh Airbase will be used by NSG who will be heli lifted from Badu, Northern suburb of Kolkata and then to respective states. Countering internal and external threats in the eastern region, it will serve both.

 

[Jamwal's]

That's why enemy standoff weapons are useless against our far off Airbases situated 3000 ~ km from western border.

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

Panagarh air force station revamped​

Indian Air Force has revamped Panagarh air force station in West Bengal so that all types of aircraft can be flown from there.

"Panagarh has become a strategic asset and will be one of the premier air bases under Eastern Air command. Latest assets such as C-130J Hercules, state-of-the-art technology radar system and surface to air missile system are planned for induction at this station," a Defence statement said.

The refurbished runway will be capable of operating all aircraft in the inventory of IAF.

Availability of this airfield will also enhance the mobility of Indian Army's Mountain Strike Corps, which will also be stationed at Panagarh in the near future, the statement said.

Additionally, this station will also provide launching base for all humanitarian and disaster relief missions.

The aircraft operating surface at Panagarh was constructed from 1942-44 during the Second World War by the US Allied forces as part of CBI (China-Burma-India) Campaign.

During 1971 war the airbase was activated and two Fighter Squadrons (Sukhoi-7 & MiG-21) were deployed here for operations.

Air Marshal S B Deo, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command will inaugurate the resurfaced runway on Tuesday, the statement said.

The AOC-in-C will also visit various operational facilities and lodger units of the station and interact with air warriors at the airbase during his visit, it added.

Source:- Panagarh air force station revamped | Business Standard News

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

Panagarh air base gears up for special operations​

KOLKATA: There is hectic activity at Panagarh Air Force Station, a World War-II vintage air base located about 112kms from Kolkata.

The last time this air base saw action was 44 years ago during the 1971 Indo-Pak War when it was home to two squadrons of MIG-21 and Sukhoi-7 aircraft. On Tuesday, a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft of the Indian Air Force, from the Veiled Vipers squadron based at Hindon, will land at the resurfaced runway of Panagarh air force station.

"The landing will be witnessed by Air Marshal S B Deo, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern air command, and other senior IAF officers. There is reason for this. In 2016, a squadron of six more Super Hercules will be stationed at Panagarh for operations in the Eastern and North Eastern region. Air Marshal Deo will inaugurate the runway that day. He will also visit various operational facilities and lodger units at the air base and interact with air warriors. The new runway at Panagarh can accommodate all aircraft in the IAF's inventory," a senior IAF officer said.

Facilities such as hangers and maintenance units have been developed at Panagarh by Lockheed Martin, the US company that manufactures the Super Hercules. It is a strategic transport aircraft that India wants to use not only for transport of troops and humanitarian aid but also for special operations. According to a senior Army officer, conventional wars are a thing of the past and Special Operations will be the key to victory in the days to come. With the Army's Special Forces being trained at Jorhat in Assam, the IAF has been carrying out regular drills for Special Operations, particularly during the night.

"AFS Panagarh has become a strategic asset and will be one of the premier air bases under Eastern Air command. Latest assets such as C-130J, a state-of-the-art technology radar system and surface-to-air missile system are planned for induction at this station. Availability of this airfield will also enhance the mobility of Indian Army's Mountain Strike Corps, which will also be stationed at Panagarh in near future. Additionally, this station will provide a launching base for all humanitarian and disaster relief missions," he said.

The aircraft operating surface at Panagarh was constructed between 1942 and 1944 during WW-II by the US Air Force to help it participate in the China-Burma-India Campaign. Given its proximity to the international border, Panagarh is ideally situated to launch operations in case of any aggression from the north.

Source:- Panagarh air base gears up for special operations - The Times of India

 

[kaonalpha]

oh crap !

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

.is this part of the new Mountain stroke corps

No, they are XVII Mountain Strike Corps temporarily headquartered at Ranchi and this one is XIV corps headquartered at Leh - though when fully raised the XVII Mountain Strike Corps will be headquartered at Panagarh only.