[Assam] Oh yes, THIRTYFIVE minutes to reach Beijing by the Indian Air Force; on the THIRTY SIXTH minute Assam likely to be leveled flat, UNLESS unilateral declaration of Independence of Assam reaches the United Nations in time.

[Bartta Bistar]

*Sukhoi base in east to counter China*
28 Sep 2007, 0036 hrs IST[image:
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/images/spacer.gif]Rajat Pandit[image:
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NEW DELHI: As part of the counter-measures against the Chinese build-up of
military infrastructure in the Tibet Autonomous Region and south China,
India will progressively base squadrons of its most potent fighter
Sukhoi-30MKIs in the eastern sector from 2008-2009 onwards.

"The first two squadrons, with 36 fighters, will be based at Tezpur airbase.
The MiG-21s at Tezpur were phased out earlier this month. Now, the runway at
the airbase will undergo a renovation, coupled with an infrastructure
upgrade to house the Sukhois," said an IAF officer. The move is significant
since the multi-role Sukhoi 'air dominance' fighters, which have a cruising
speed of 3,200 km, can strike targets deep inside China after taking off
from Tezpur.

"Sukhois, which carry almost eight tonnes of armaments, have immense
strategic capabilities. Moreover, with air-to-air refuelling by IL-78
tankers, their radius of operations can be further enhanced to around 8,000
km," said the officer.

The Sukhois and the 3,500-km-plus nuclear-capable Agni-III missile, which
will be ready for operational deployment by 2010, constitute a crucial part
of the "affordable deterrence" posture against China. In addition to Tezpur,
IAF is also in the process of upgrading its other airbases in the eastern
sector, apart from augmenting its network of ADDCs (air defence directional
centres) and JADCs (joint air defence centres).

Incidentally, the People's Liberation Army (Air Force) has established at
least four airbases in Tibet and three in south China to mount operations
against India. But since these bases are located at an average height of
10,000 feet, the weapon-carrying load of Chinese fighters is somewhat
restricted.

India, on its part, has so far based its Sukhois only at Pune and Bareilly,
though they have operated from as diverse places as the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands and Halwara. But now, the IAF is earmarking important airbases to
position future Sukhoi squadrons to keep pace with fresh deliveries from
Russia and the ongoing indigenous production. India is on course to acquire
40 more Sukhois from Russia in a $1.6-billion deal, apart from the 190 such
fighters already contracted, as reported earlier.

Faced with a depletion in fighter squadron strength, the government has also
directed Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to finish the manufacture of the 140
Sukhois (of the initial 190) by 2013-2014, instead of the originally
scheduled 2017-2018.
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