The Indian Air Force (IAF) has raised a new squadron of Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft at Chabua Air Base to enhance its strike capabilities along the Chinese border in north-east India.
The IAF plans to deploy four squadrons at the Chabua and Tezpur bases, which were earlier operating different types of the MiG-21 series fighter aircraft.
An IAF spokesperson said this was the second Sukhoi squadron to be deployed in the north-eastern region after Tezpur Air Base.
The first Sukhoi squadron in the north-east was raised at Tezpur in 2009, according to PTI.
“The new squadron will get its full complement of 16 to 18 aircraft in the coming few months,” the spokesperson added.
The IAF presently operates over 125 Sukhois and is planning to induct a total of 280 such fighter aircraft this decade.
