Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News ServiceNew Delhi, September 25
Unveiling its immediate plans on security of Indian air space, the IAF today said mountain-specific radars and sensors will be placed alongside line of control (LAC) with China in the Ladakh region while front-line long-range fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30 will patrol skies over Punjab and J&K besides the North-East.
Operating fighter aircraft from an airstrip near the LAC in China is a possibility in the next few years.
Air Marshall NAK Browne, chief of the all-important Western Air Command (WAC), which controls the air space over the 2360-km boundary with China and Pakistan said here today that different types of radars will be put up in mountains.
He hinted at deploying these alongside the Pakistan side of the boundary. “These are specialised radars and can be deployed anywhere in the mountains”.
The IAF is looking at low-level light weight radars and 19 of them have been ordered and more are in the pipeline.
Two indigenously produced Rohini radars have been placed alongside the LAC and one more will be inducted next year. Two have been placed in Punjab.
On preparedness, he said: “We do need to talk to everybody...Everyone of our neighbours and at the same time keep ready”.
Crucially, the IAF plans to place two squadrons (38 aircraft) of the top-of-the-line Sukhoi-30mki fighter at a base in Punjab by 2011. Detachments will be sent to bases in J&K and also other areas from this base in Punjab.
