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.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Go deeper with GlobalData

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

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.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Airforce Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Airforce Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.


Excellence in Action
Discover how Virtualitics is transforming mission readiness with explainable AI, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision intelligence across the U.S. Department of Defense through its AI-powered Integrated Readiness Optimization suite, for which it has won the Innovation and Business Expansion awards.

Discover the Impact