Indian Troops/Aircraft Movements

Indian Troops/Aircraft Movements:

 Indian Air Force on June 13 placed four front line all-weather fighters, Sukhoi-30 MKI, at Tezpur Air Base in Assam  Tezpur Air Base, which is not far from India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh, is expected to host a full squadron of Sukhoi fighter aircrafts in near future  The runway at Tezpur Air Base was recently upgraded and extended from 9,000 ft to 11,000 ft.  Runways of Jorhat and Chabua air bases of the IAF in Assam are also being upgraded and extended.  India's Border Roads Organisation is carrying out a Rs 2,341 crore ($490 million) reconstruction in Jammu and Kashmir to provide all-weather connectivity to Leh and other strategic areas bordering China in Himachal Pradesh.  A sum of Rs 2,400 ($500 million) crore is also being spent to provide road connectivity in areas of Arunachal Pradesh.  The proposed Army mountain divisions will be stationed along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and areas bordering China.  Each division has a strength of 10,000 to 13,000 troops trained in specialised warfare. The air assets of the divisions would include helicopter gunships and attack choopers.  The IAF is also readying five advanced grounds in Arunachal Pradesh to ensure landing of big transport planes for faster induction of troops and a dozen new helipads are being constructed.  There are air force airbases in Jorhat, Chabua and Tezpur in Assam and one such airbase is requested to be set up in Arunachal Pradesh.  The defense ministry will reportedly set up eight defense airports in Arunachal.  Indian reports claim China's military presence across the border is estimated at 300,000 troops. After divisions are added, in Arunachal alone India will have about 100,000 soldiers.  The additional weaponry to be bought for India-China border includes light 155mm guns, a variety of helicopters, rotary unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense systems, C-130J aircraft for swift deployment of troops, and C3I equipment.  The buildup of weaponry will take place along the Ladakh sector in the north Uttarkhand region, and along the eastern border in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.  New roads will connect Daulat Beg Oldie and Fukche air fields which were reactivated on May 31 and November 4, 2008.

Sources: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090616/main3.htm

India ups guard on China border Tezpur base gets Sukhois; coming next 2 mountain divs Ajay Banerjee/Bijay Sankar Bora Tribune News Service

New Delhi/Guwahati, June 15 Ramping up capabilities along the Sino-Indian border, the Indian Air Force today placed its front line all-weather fighters, Sukhoi-30 MKI, at Tezpur in Assam which is located at a central point between Bhutan, Tibet, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Ths comes within weeks of the Union Cabinet’s decision to raise two new mountain divisions along the Chinese border. Apart from this, the Border Roads Organisation is carrying out a Rs 2,341 crore reconstruction in J&K to provide all-weather connectivity to Leh and other strategic areas bordering China in Himachal Pradesh. A sum of Rs 2,400 crore is also being spent to provide road connectivity in areas of Arunachal Pradesh.

A defence source in Tezpur said the four SU-30 MKI aircraft, which were formally inducted today, had been flown in on June 13. The air base, which is not far from India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh, is expected to host a full squadron of Sukhoi fighter aircrafts in near future.

With formal induction of Sukhoi aircraft, Tezpur air base became the third destination of these fighter aircrafts in the country after Lohegaon in Pune and Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh. The runway in Tezpur Air base was recently upgraded and extended from 9,000 ft to 11,000 ft. Runways of Jorhat and Chabua air bases of the IAF in Assam are also being upgraded and extended. The British Royal Indian Air Force constructed Tezpur airfield in 1942 during Second World War. It was subsequently developed into a full-fledged Air Force base in 1959. For the last 25 years this base had been home to the MiG-21 fleet, which was used extensively to train rookie pilots for the IAF.

SU-30, one of the best aircraft in the world, has capabilities to endure long flights with mid- air refuelling capability. A full squadron, consisting of 20 odd aircraft, will be located at Tezpur to allow fighters to patrol or defend areas in the sensitive northeast.

The proposed Army mountain divisions will be stationed along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and areas bordering China. Each division has a strength of 10,000 to 13,000 troops trained in specialised warfare. The Army already has 10 divisions dedicated to mountain warfare and another infantry division for high-altitude operations. The air assets of the divisions would include helicopter gunships and attack choopers.

The IAF is also readying five advanced grounds in Arunachal Pradesh to ensure landing of big transport planes for faster induction of troops. Also, a dozen new helipads are being constructed.

Ministry of defence to enhance defence networking along Sino-Indian border

13 Jun 2009, 2139 hrs IST, Bikash Singh, ET Bureau http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Ministry-of-defence-to-enhance- defence-networking-along-Sino-Indian-border/articleshow/4653116.cms GUWAHATI: The general secretary of Northeast Congress Co-ordination Committee (NECCC) and parliamentarian from Arunachal Pradesh, Takam Sanjoy, said the ministry of defence will enhance defence networking along the Sino-Indian border.

Mr Sanjoy, who was in Guwahati said, "I recently had a meeting with defence minister A.K. Antony. There are air force airbases in Jorhat, Chabua and Tezpur in Assam and I have requested that one such airbase be set up in Arunachal Pradesh."

According to Mr Sanjoy, the ministry will set up eight defence airports in Arunachal. He further said, "The minister has informed that two army divisions will be moved in the state soon. On the lines of Ladak and Kumaon scouts, the ministry has agreed to raise the Arunachal scouts. Necessary directions have been issued and the projects will soon take shape."

The parliamentarian assured that security of the eastern frontier has been given topmost priority by the UPA government. "My state is on top of the mainstream map of India and no force, whether it is China or any other power, can claim an inch of our land. Developments along the Sino-Indian border are a matter of concern."

He informed that a global tender for the 1,000-km Trans Arunachal Pradesh Highway has already been floated. Last year, prime minister Manmohan Singh had announced a Rs 21,000- crore package for the state.

Mr Sanjay also unveiled plans of revamping the NECCC and accordingly met Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and Meghalaya chief minister D.D Lapang who is chairman of NECCC. "The Congress in Northeast must be strengthened. The Congress chief minister, Congress legislature party leaders and MPs are likely to meet in August to discuss and find ways to strengthened the party in the Northeast."

He informed that the body will work for solution of interstate border disputes among the Northeastern states.

http://www.ndtv.com/ndtvfuture/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20090094894

India ups vigil on China border Nitin Gokhale Tuesday, May 26, 2009, (New Delhi)

It now seems clear that India is slowly but surely being surrounded by China with the growing influence that the Chinese have in each of India's neighbours -- Pakistan, Nepal, Burma and now even Sri Lanka.

Clearly concerned about being encircled NDTV has exclusive information that India is to send another 40,000 troops to the India-China border.

After downplaying the China threat for years, the government is now decided to raise additional fighting formations to meet any eventuality and to improve the infrastructure in the areas bordering China. India increases troops:

Two new divisions (40,000 troops) Artillery brigade, 9 airstrips Military's assessment: China is India's greatest threat India wants to match China's forces Cost: Rs 5,000 crores India is increasing the number of troops on the border with China in Arunachal Pradesh. NDTV has learnt that two mountain divisions, that is, 40,000 troops will be recruited over the next two years.

It's a huge step that New Delhi has taken and reflects the military's view that China is India's greatest threat.

Deploying more troops is being seen as an assertion by India that Arunachal Pradesh is not a part of China as Beijing claims.

So, why has this been done?

India wants to match China's forces. Sources say there's an urgency to match China's massive military presence across the border estimated at 3 lakh troops. After this, in Arunachal alone India will have about 1 lakh soldiers. This plan implementation will cost the government Rs 5,000 crore.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3493608 India to Bolster Defenses Along China Border By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI Published: 23 Apr 10:50 EDT (14:50 GMT) PRINT | EMAIL NEW DELHI - The Indian Defence Ministry is drawing up a list of additional equipment and weapons to support a proposed buildup of Army and Air Force forces along its border with China.

Senior Defence Ministry planners are working on building infrastructure, increasing troops, building additional airfields and upgrading roads and infrastructure along the China border, Defence Ministry sources said.

Special troops also will be raised for deployment.

The additional weaponry to be bought includes light 155mm guns, a variety of helicopters, rotary unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense systems, C-130J aircraft for swift deployment of troops, and C3I equipment. The buildup will take place along the Ladakh sector in the north Uttarkhand region, and along the eastern border in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

The Army also has decided to raise two new mountain divisions numbering about 15,000 troops to be deployed along the 4,057-kilometer Line of Actual Control (LAC), between India and China. The 1.1 million-strong Army has 10 mountain formations in about 34 divisions.

The Indian government also plans to develop more than 600 kilometers of road along the LAC, which will further link to additional road networks in the hinterland. http://www.samaylive.com/news/arunachal-leaders-hail-reported-deployment-of-more- troops/630447.html

Arunachal leaders hail reported deployment of more troops

Published by: Noor Khan Published: Thu, 28 May 2009 at 05:03 IST Itanagar, May 27 : Political leaders cutting across party lines in Arunachal Pradesh, including chief minister Dorjee Khandu, today hailed the Centre's reported decision to deploy additional troops along the state's border with China.

Khandu, soon after his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi today, said in a statement that "I for one have no doubt about the resolve of the Centre to protect territorial integrity of the country against any possible threat and be in readiness to meet any challenge from across the border".

"We would welcome the decision of the Centre to deploy more troops to Sino-India border", he said reacting to the report.

"The Centre must be assessing and monitoring the situation along the border continuously and any fresh deployment of troops in Arunachal must be in response to the threat perception.

Talking to PTI from Delhi on phone, Takam Sanjoy and Ninong Ering, the two newly-elected Congress Lok Sabha members from the state, which shares 1080km border with China, said the activities across the border, including massive development of infrastructure for easy movement of troops, is a matter of security concern.

http://www.sananews.com.pk/english/2009/05/11/india-boosts-strategic-presence-along-chinese- border/

India boosts ’strategic presence’ along Chinese border 5/11/2009

NEW DELHI India is strengthening its strategic depth and presence along the Chinese border in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. The purpose is to maintain vigil over the Chinese road from Lhasa to Xijiang in the Tibetan Autonomous Region. The road passes through the strategic mountainous area of Aksai Chin. The construction of Indian roads in the region is a follow-up action after the country reactivated its two strategically important airfields in May and November last year after more than four decades. The idea is to build India’s “strategic presence” there as new global realities and challenges are emerging on the borders, said an Army officer on condition of anonymity. These roads will connect Daulat Beg Oldie and Fukche air fields which were reactivated on May 31 and November 4, 2008, for the first time after the Sino-Indian war of 1962. “The roads are being constructed from both the eastern and western flanks,” confirmed minister of tourism Nawang Rigzin Jora, who represents Leh constituency in the J&K Assembly. He said work is in progress. While the minister did not reveal much about the reasons for these roads, the army officer recalled: “We had lost Aksai Chin because of our absence there. But now we have realised that the presence in all the fields is required with the twin objective to strengthen ourselves strategically and make our presence felt there. We can also keep tabs on the Chinese activities in the Aksai Chin region.” The argument for building roads is that there cannot be a permanent dependence on the air presence, though there are plans to land fighter planes. The AN-32 and medium sized transport plane IL-76 have already landed there. The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) fixed-wing aircraft (AN-32) landed at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO). Following this, IL-76 planes made sorties over the region and landed in the airfield. The Advanced Landing Ground (ALG), where the aircraft landed at DBO, has an unpaved surface and is located in the Aksai Chin area at a height of 16,200 feet near the strategic Karakoram Pass, very close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. DBO is an important army forward area post linking the ancient silk route to China. This base was built during the India-China conflict in 1962. Packet aircraft of the IAF operated from DBO between 1962 and 1965. In 1996, an earthquake caused some loosening of the surface soil, making this base unfit for further fixed-wing aircraft operations.But now everything has been repaired and the airfield is functional. Hindustan Times