Rafale Squadron likely to be housed in frontline Bengal air base, located close to China

New Delhi: Frontline Indian Air Force base in Hasimara in West Bengal is likely to be one of the bases for a Rafale squadron as part of the country’s policy to slowly build nuclear as well as conventional deterrence against China, it has been reported.

As per media reports while the first squadron is likely to be based at the Sarsawa base in Uttar Pradesh, another base to house the third squadron is yet to be identified.

Each of these IAF squadrons will have 12 Rafale fighter jets.

Rafale is a multi-role combat aircraft built by Dassault Aviation of France. India and France signed an inter-government agreement for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighters off the shelf on September 23, 2016.

Set up after the 1962 India-China war, Hasimara happens to be an important air base of the Eastern Command in northern West Bengal, located close to China, Bangladesh and Bhutan border.

Situated a few kilometres away from the India-Bhutan border and nestled amid tea gardens and forests, it is also known as the ‘Gateway to Bhutan’.

Hasimara currently houses two squadrons of MiG 27, which are likely to be phased out over the next few years. The base also hosts Akash missile systems.

The IAF currently has 33 combat squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 39.5, which is sought to be raised to 42.

Former Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, had prior to his retirement told the media that the air force requires at least 200 more fighter jets in the next 10 years.

(With agency inputs)