Thiruvanthapuram: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on January 20 would formally induct Su-30 fighter squadron at the Air Force Station in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, said Air Marshal Amit Tiwari, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command.
He told the media on January 15 this would be the second frontline fighter squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to be based in South.
The fighters would have the most potent platform capable of long reach and multi-role capabilities, he said.
The maritime strike squadron inducted in the IAF is also armed with the indigenous BrahMos missile, Air Marshal Tiwari said.
The IAF had earlier announced the resurrection of the 222 Squadron, the Tigersharks on January 1 with the Sukhois.
The squadron was originally raised on September 15, 1969 with another Sukhoi fighter, the Su-7, and later with MiG-27 ground-attack aircraft.
The newly resurrected 222 Squadron would be operationalised with BrahMos-equipped Sukhoi-30 air superiority fighter with twin engine, the officials said.
“The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) which is a central maritime spread, bordering three continents, has an important role to play in regional peace, security and prosperity.
The IAF is an intrinsically strategic force and is set to extend the reach into the vast IOR,” he said.
The capability of the missile, coupled with superlative performance of the Su-30 MKI, is set to change the paradigm of maritime surveillance, security and strike in the region.
