The Indian Air Force will soon have its first fighter base and a squadron of combat jets in the peninsular region at Sulur in Tamil Nadu. The base will protect strategic installations and maintain Indian air superiority over the Indian Ocean.
Work is apace at Sulur on an extended runway, test bays for the flight control system, avionics, radar, special hangars and modern radio and navigation aids. These facilities are being built for fighter jets which will embark on patrol missions over the peninsular region and the Indian Ocean.
The IAF has chosen the indigenous Tejas fighters for deployment at Sulur. These fighters will be inducted in December 2010 and have a flying range of 500 km.
“With mid-air refuelling, the range can be stretched upto 1,000 km for enhanced security cover,” the sources said.