Defense Minister Antony will inaugurate a new airbase at Thanjavur on 27 May whose facilities will ultimately support a new squadron of Su-30MKI (Flanker-H) by 2018. In the meantime, the renovation of the airfield will increase India’s ability to defend the Indian Ocean region especially island territories in the East, reports the Times of India:
IAF will keep sending regular fighter and transport aircraft detachments to Thanjavur since the runway and other facilities are in place there now. Long-range fighters operating from Thanjavur will be able to dominate the crucial Andaman and Nicobar archipelago as well as the Bay of Bengal. (Times of India 13MAY13)
Recent satellite imagery of the air base shows lengthening and repair to the runway surfaces as well as the addition of a parallel taxiway, enhancing the capacity of the airfield substantially. With the addition of over 500 meters in length, India will be able to support larger aircraft at the airbase, which could be crucial for resupply.
According to Antony, Thanjavur will be the last airbase to receive India’s new Flankers. Pune and Bareilly already have two Sukhoi squadrons each, while Tezpur, Chabua, Halwara and Jodhpur have a squadron each. Another squadron is coming up at Sirsa, after which Tezpur, Chabua, Jodhpur and Halwara will obtain their second squadrons.
