Sukhoi-30 MKI jets inducted in Thanjavur air base

The first such base in Southern India was inducted by Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat in the presence of Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria at the Thanjavur Air Base, 360 km from here, on Monday.

Starting with five fighter jets, the newly-resurrected unit, 222 (Tigersharks) Squadron, will achieve its full capacity of 18 planes gradually. Officials said the squadron aircraft will be equipped with the Brahmos medium-range supersonic cruise missile, which has a range of 290 km.

First raised in Ambala in September 1969, the Tigersharks squadron was moved to Halwara in 1971, from where it carried out combat operations in the war with Pakistan later that year. Four years later, the squadron was moved back to Ambala (1975), Hindon (1985) and Hasimara (1989 to January 5, 2020).