India has inducted its front-line Sukhoi 30 MKI combat aircrafts at Halwara Airbase in Punjab. The Sukhoi 30 MKI, are replacing the phased out MiG-23 aircraft in the 220 Squadron that is also known as 'Desert Tigers'. All MiG-23 aircraft have been retired from the Indian Air Force and are gradually being replaced by new and more capable aircraft.
With the induction of these new Sukhois, the 220 squadron has now been revived at Halwara.The Sukhoi induction was done by Delhi-based Western Air Command's (WAC) chief Air Marshal Arup Raha in the presence of his wife Lily Raha, according to a defence press release.
Sukhoi 30 MKI on a sortie ( Image Courtesy - wikipedia )
Air Force Station Halwara is one of the oldest forward air bases of the IAF set up in 1942 by the British. Halwara, due to its strategic location, was actively involved in both 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan wars. It was home to Spitfires in early 1950s and later converted into a MiG-23 operations base till 2009. In 2011, Halwara was chosen to be the first Sukhoi squadron base under the Western Air Command.
News Courtesy - twocircles.net
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