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Sulur Air Base to be upgraded: Official - The Times of India
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COIMBATORE: The Air Forceis in the process of strengthening its presencein the southern region by establishing new infrastructure facilities for safeguarding the critical maritime and strategic installations, said Air Marshal R K Jolly, Air Officer Commanding in Chiefof Southern Air Command, here on Tuesday.
In a few months, the revitalised Air Force Station at Thanjavur will start functioning and turn a major air base of the south, he said. Works including upgradation of infrastructure facilities andenhancing operation capabilities are almost complete in Thanjavur, Jolly said, while promising to upgrade the existing facilities in Sulur Air Base in Coimbatore as well.
Jolly was interacting with the media in connection with the presentation of President's Standard to two southern flying units Squadron 25 and Squadron33 to be held at Sulur Air Base on December 18. President Pranab Mukherjee will arrive in Sulur on December 18 to present the awards.
"In the case of Sulur Air Base, we are implementing a series of upgradation, including expansion of runway. All these efforts are part of strengthening the Southern Air Command to cater to the evolving security needs of the nation," the Air Marshal said.
Referring to the changing threat scenarios in the Indian Ocean with the increased military ambitions of some of the country's neighbours, Jollysaid that the Southern Air Command played a crucial role in protecting the 4,000-odd kilometers of the country's coastline in the south as well as the island territories of Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep and it would continue to remain vigil against possible security challenges.
"Taking note of this threatperception, we are aggressively enhancing our presence in the southern part of the country with latest infrastructure facilities. Once, the infrastructure is in place, flying units can beshifted with a short notice," Jolly said. "The southern region has lot of strategic installations suchas the aeronautical industry, space and nuclear establishments. Therefore it is of at most importance to protect them from any threat," he said.
Commending the Air Force staff in Squadron 25 and Squadron 33 for achieving the rare feat of President's Standard, he said, "The President's Standard needs to be earned by an unit and is not an easy feat. It marks and depicts the hard work and sacrifice of all the personnel posted to these units, and is the recognition of their selfless service to the nation."
When queried on the shortage of officer and airmen, he said that there is no severe shortage of men and there is nothing to worry. With plans to induct more training aircraft and expansion of infrastructure facilities, another 750 officers wouldbe coming out of the airforce academy, he said.
Highlighting the participation of personnelsfrom south, he said that southern region is in forefront in contributing men and women to the Indian Airforce and varioussteps are taken to encourage people to inductin the force.
Earlier he congratulated the flying units 25 squadron and 33 squadronfor getting Presidents Standard, which is a symbol of excellence. He said 25 sqadron was formed in 1963 at Chandigarh, It played a crucial role in Indo Pak conflict of 1965 and 1971 operation Parakram and Operation Vijay and Kargil operation in 1999.
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COIMBATORE: The Air Forceis in the process of strengthening its presencein the southern region by establishing new infrastructure facilities for safeguarding the critical maritime and strategic installations, said Air Marshal R K Jolly, Air Officer Commanding in Chiefof Southern Air Command, here on Tuesday.
In a few months, the revitalised Air Force Station at Thanjavur will start functioning and turn a major air base of the south, he said. Works including upgradation of infrastructure facilities andenhancing operation capabilities are almost complete in Thanjavur, Jolly said, while promising to upgrade the existing facilities in Sulur Air Base in Coimbatore as well.
Jolly was interacting with the media in connection with the presentation of President's Standard to two southern flying units Squadron 25 and Squadron33 to be held at Sulur Air Base on December 18. President Pranab Mukherjee will arrive in Sulur on December 18 to present the awards.
"In the case of Sulur Air Base, we are implementing a series of upgradation, including expansion of runway. All these efforts are part of strengthening the Southern Air Command to cater to the evolving security needs of the nation," the Air Marshal said.
Referring to the changing threat scenarios in the Indian Ocean with the increased military ambitions of some of the country's neighbours, Jollysaid that the Southern Air Command played a crucial role in protecting the 4,000-odd kilometers of the country's coastline in the south as well as the island territories of Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep and it would continue to remain vigil against possible security challenges.
"Taking note of this threatperception, we are aggressively enhancing our presence in the southern part of the country with latest infrastructure facilities. Once, the infrastructure is in place, flying units can beshifted with a short notice," Jolly said. "The southern region has lot of strategic installations suchas the aeronautical industry, space and nuclear establishments. Therefore it is of at most importance to protect them from any threat," he said.
Commending the Air Force staff in Squadron 25 and Squadron 33 for achieving the rare feat of President's Standard, he said, "The President's Standard needs to be earned by an unit and is not an easy feat. It marks and depicts the hard work and sacrifice of all the personnel posted to these units, and is the recognition of their selfless service to the nation."
When queried on the shortage of officer and airmen, he said that there is no severe shortage of men and there is nothing to worry. With plans to induct more training aircraft and expansion of infrastructure facilities, another 750 officers wouldbe coming out of the airforce academy, he said.
Highlighting the participation of personnelsfrom south, he said that southern region is in forefront in contributing men and women to the Indian Airforce and varioussteps are taken to encourage people to inductin the force.
Earlier he congratulated the flying units 25 squadron and 33 squadronfor getting Presidents Standard, which is a symbol of excellence. He said 25 sqadron was formed in 1963 at Chandigarh, It played a crucial role in Indo Pak conflict of 1965 and 1971 operation Parakram and Operation Vijay and Kargil operation in 1999.
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