'Panagarh AFS will boost IAF's strategic capabilities'

The Air Force Station (AFS) in Panagarh in West Bengal will enhance the Indian Air Force's capability in the eastern region, an officer said here on Tuesday.

The Panagarh AFS will also augment the mobility of the Indian Army which will headquarter its new Mountain Strike Corps here, Air Marshal S.B. Deo, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command said after inaugurating the AFS' rresurfaced runway.

Deo inaugurated the refurbished runway at the AFS Panagarh, capable of operating all aircraft in the IAF's inventory, making it one of the premier air bases under the Eastern Air Command.

Constructed during the Second World War, the air force base is located in Burdwan district, around 112 km from Kolkata.

"Availbaility of Panagarh airfield will definitely enhance strategic capability of IAF in the Eastern Area of Responsibility (AOR) and will also augment mobililty of Mountain Strike Corps which will be stationed at Panagarh in near future," Deo said here.

The inauguration was marked by the touchdown of an IAF C-130J Super Hercules from the Veiled Vipers squadron based at Hindon Air Force base under the Western Air Command. Panagarh will be IAF's second hub for the next batch of six C-130J aircraft after Hindon.

"Panagarh is being developed as a base for C-130J. There are also plans for a larger aircraft of the tanker variety," said Deo.

"The presence of the C-130J will also help in HADR (humanitarian and disaster relief) operations in Bengal and adjoining regions," added Deo.

The operating surface at Panagarh was laid between 1942 and 1944 during the Second World War by the allied forces as part of their China-Burma (now Myanmar)-India campaign.

During the 1971 war, the airbase was activated and two fighter squadrons Sukhoi-7 and MiG-21 were deployed for operations.