News May 27, 2009

IAF ups focus on China

Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major and Air Marshal PV Naik Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major and Air Marshal PV Naik
The Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major today indicated a renewed impetus towards building infrastructure and airfields in the northeast of the country in the light of the lack of knowledge of the capabilities of the Chinese armed forces.

Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major and Air Marshal PV Naik

Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major and Air Marshal PV Naik

The Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major today indicated a renewed impetus towards building infrastructure and airfields in the northeast of the country in the light of the lack of knowledge of the capabilities of the Chinese armed forces.

While clarifying that his recent remarks about the Chinese threat being greater than Pakistan had been ‘misunderstood’, he said “There is no escalation of any threat perception,” and that, “We know very little about the capabilities of that country.”

The air chief had recently been quoted as considering China a ‘bigger threat’ than Pakistan.

According to the air chief, the IAF’s assessment was ‘not threat-centric’ but ‘capability-based’.

He also indicated the IAF would be upgrading its presence in in area close to India’s eastern frontiers. “We have plans to improve infrastructure in the northeast. We’re upgrading four-five airfields and Advanced Landing Grounds (AGL). We’re also going to be basing a fleet of Sukhoi-30s in Tezpur”, he said, referring to the IAF base in Assam which has been undergoing renovation to become suitable for hosting the aircraft. This will be the first time the aircraft are stationed in the northeast.

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About Saurabh Joshi

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Follow Saurabh Joshi on Twitter @ http://www.twitter.com/saurabhjoshi Saurabh is a journalist based in New Delhi, India who has worked in print, television as well as internet news media. Besides defense and strategy, his past assignments have included reporting from Kashmir, coverage of terror strikes as well as election coverage from all over India. He has a Bachelors degree in Journalism (Honors) as well as a law degree (LLB), both from the University of Delhi.
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