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Vijaynagar airbase of strategic importance, says Air Chief
Against the backdrop of Chinese military infrastructure build up along its borders, the reactivation of Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at Vijaynagar in Arunachal Pradesh is of strategic importance to build infrastructure in the northeastern region, said Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne in Bangalore on Friday. He, however, made it clear that it was not to counter anybody.
Addressing the media in Bangalore on the sidelines of a conference, the Air chief said it was only to build the infrastructure in northeast but noted that the airfield was too short to operate fighter aircrafts. He said, "It's not to counter anybody. All that we are doing is to provide tremendous amount of accessibility to the northeast region. And while we (IAF) are there, we will also support the Army. The reactivated airstrip at Vijaynagar will enable us to land medium-lift transport aircraft like AN-32 and C-130J Hercules in addition to helicopters".
The Air Force chief felt the region had not developed because of not being able to transport people and provide access to certain hinterlands in and around the area. He added that "the increased accessibility would provide all round development in the area.
The IAF on Friday resumed operations at the 4,000-feet-long airstrip at an altitude of 4,200 metres (12,600 feet) with the landing of its AN-32. Located at the tri-junction of India, Myanmar and China border, the upgraded ALG in the Changlang district of the border State was set up in 1962 as a strategic base for operational reasons in the difficult terrain.
The Air chief indicated that the IAF was keen to induct two more Israeli Phalcon AWACS (airborne warning and control systems), in the same configuration with electronic suite "because we have spent a lot of money on the integration".
On India's plans to buy six more C-130J Super Hercules heavy-lift aircraft from Lockheed Martin of the US, the Air Chief Marshal said: "We hope to conclude that contract by January". On the country's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA-Tejas) programme, he said there are delays in its development. The initial operational clearance-2 is expected only in the middle of next year, followed by final operational clearance two years later, he said, adding the delay is caused by a "very active monsoon" during which not many flights could be undertaken.
"Apart from that there were technical issues that we have to resolve as we went along," he said. He informed that IAF will make public in four weeks the winner of India's biggest-ever Rs 42,000 crore military contract to acquire 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft.
