sudhir007
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The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to deploy fighter aircraft squadrons in southern parts of the country to tackle the threat from non-state actors and to secure sea lanes.
Vice-Chief of the IAF Air Marshal PK Barbora said here on the sidelines of a function, This is in our plans. The first two squadrons of the light combat aircraft (LCA) would also be based in South India and squadrons of either the M-MRCA or the Su-30 MKI would also be based there.
Barbora, was responding to a question whether the Air Force had any plans of deploying its fighters in the southern peninsula in wake of the increasing threat from non-state actors like the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and pirates. Barbora said, The role of IAF would increase in South India and we are also thinking of increasing our presence in the Andaman Nicobar Islands.
The IAF is planning to deploy the first two squadrons of the LCA in Sulur in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu.
The IAF has been strengthening its presence in the south to protect the countrys interests in the Indian Ocean region. With the induction of mid-air refuellers, the IAF can expand its strategic reach.
Barbora also said the IAF was reasonably happy with the lightweight multi-role jet fighter Tejas, which is expected to obtain the initial operational clearance next month.
The aircraft has been manufactured by HAL at its Bangalore facility and its designer, DRDOs Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), is also based there.
India has chosen GE-414 engines to power the next generation of Tejas.
Meanwhile, faced with rising incidents of piracy and fears of terrorists misusing small uninhabited island territories in the Arabian Sea, the Navy has deployed its warships on round-the-clock patrolling around the Lakshwadeep and Minicoy islands.
According to sources, 4-5 warships have been deployed as attempts at piracy have been getting closer to Indian shores. Three major sea lanes, used for transporting oil and other trade material, pass by these islands that lie around 200 km west of Kerala. The Navy has also pressed in its air surveillance assets like Dorniers and the IL-38 series of planes.
Till now, the Navy was not conducting round-the-clock patrolling around these islands. On December 24, Defence Minister AK Antony virtually sounded the alarm bells. Inaugurating a coast guard station at Minicoy, he said there were doubts that other elements were behind sea pirates.
In a sweep operation in November, the Navy had chased out a group of pirates. It was decided that this was not enough, hence the decision to have warships tackle it on day-to-day basis. Since international navies have tightened noose around the neck of pirates operating around the gulf of Aden and Somalia, the pirates have moved in three directions - area between Madagascar and Mozambique, towards India and northwards towards Oman.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to deploy fighter aircraft squadrons in southern parts of the country to tackle the threat from non-state actors and to secure sea lanes.
Vice-Chief of the IAF Air Marshal PK Barbora said here on the sidelines of a function, This is in our plans. The first two squadrons of the light combat aircraft (LCA) would also be based in South India and squadrons of either the M-MRCA or the Su-30 MKI would also be based there.
Barbora, was responding to a question whether the Air Force had any plans of deploying its fighters in the southern peninsula in wake of the increasing threat from non-state actors like the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and pirates. Barbora said, The role of IAF would increase in South India and we are also thinking of increasing our presence in the Andaman Nicobar Islands.
The IAF is planning to deploy the first two squadrons of the LCA in Sulur in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu.
The IAF has been strengthening its presence in the south to protect the countrys interests in the Indian Ocean region. With the induction of mid-air refuellers, the IAF can expand its strategic reach.
Barbora also said the IAF was reasonably happy with the lightweight multi-role jet fighter Tejas, which is expected to obtain the initial operational clearance next month.
The aircraft has been manufactured by HAL at its Bangalore facility and its designer, DRDOs Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), is also based there.
India has chosen GE-414 engines to power the next generation of Tejas.
Meanwhile, faced with rising incidents of piracy and fears of terrorists misusing small uninhabited island territories in the Arabian Sea, the Navy has deployed its warships on round-the-clock patrolling around the Lakshwadeep and Minicoy islands.
According to sources, 4-5 warships have been deployed as attempts at piracy have been getting closer to Indian shores. Three major sea lanes, used for transporting oil and other trade material, pass by these islands that lie around 200 km west of Kerala. The Navy has also pressed in its air surveillance assets like Dorniers and the IL-38 series of planes.
Till now, the Navy was not conducting round-the-clock patrolling around these islands. On December 24, Defence Minister AK Antony virtually sounded the alarm bells. Inaugurating a coast guard station at Minicoy, he said there were doubts that other elements were behind sea pirates.
In a sweep operation in November, the Navy had chased out a group of pirates. It was decided that this was not enough, hence the decision to have warships tackle it on day-to-day basis. Since international navies have tightened noose around the neck of pirates operating around the gulf of Aden and Somalia, the pirates have moved in three directions - area between Madagascar and Mozambique, towards India and northwards towards Oman.
