IAF To Operate Sukhoi Jets From Dehradun In A Possible Move To Counter China
In what could be viewed as a strategic counter to China, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will operate a detachment of two Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft from the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun for two days (19 and 20 February), reports Zee News. The move is being seen as a preparatory exercise for possible Chinese aggression in the future and comes after several airspace violations in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the past.
The detachment would operate from the airfield for two days from Feb 19 for area familiarisation before returning to their parent base. As a routine exercise of activating civil airfield by the IAF, a detachment of two Su-30 MKI aircraft would operate from Jolly Grant Airport in DehradunA statement released by the IAF
India and China share a 4,000 km-long border of which 400 km is along Uttarakhand. In 2017, a Chinese helicopter was spotted flying over the Chamoli district in Uttarakhand, close to the border. The Superintendent of Police for Chamoli, Tripti Bhatt had told reporters that the helicopter had violated Indian airspace for three to five minutes.