IAF chief visits air base in Assam's Chabua

New Delhi: IAF chief Arup Raha today reviewed the operational preparedness of a Su-30MKI combat aircraft air base along the China border in Assam. “Raha is on a day’s visit to Air Force Station Chabua, which the eastern-most air base of the force,” an IAF release said.[caption id=“attachment_1473217” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha reviewing the Guard of Honour during his visit to Air Force Station, Chabua in Assam on 09 April 2014. Image courtesy PIB[/caption] During his visit, Raha flew a sortie on SU-30MKI and interacted with the air warriors of the station, it said. This is second visit by the IAF Chief to the eastern sector after he took over the force in January this year. The IAF is upgrading its capabilities and increasing its assets in the eastern sector in view of military modernisation done by the Chinese side along the border there. The IAF has recently taken out the MiG 21s from Chabua and Tezpur air bases in Assam and replaced them with the frontline Su-30MKI combat aircraft. The Army has also increased its presence in the region with the deployment and raising of a Mountain Strike Corps in Panagarh in West Bengal which will see the deployment of new formations along the China border from Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. PTI