It’s all systems go for city

Experts told Express Newsline that one transport flight — a mini squadron — arrived here last week, and would soon be upgraded into a full-fledged squadron. A flight of the communication squadron is expected here next month; various other allied services will follow.

Though the scout teams will be executing the movement of the top officers and military material — “very important” jobs according to the experts — it is also a fact that the Vadodara air base is being upgraded in view of the vital installations around the city. Officers reportedly thought the oil and chemical giants located here merited a special cordon in the command jurisdiction, spread across from Pune to Jaisalmer.

Top officers said that apart from the military upgradation, the base would also be hauled over by the civil Airport Authority of India, in view of its location on the south-western coastal border. “An advanced base can also come in handy while assessing and managing various dangers as well as civil and natural calamities,” said a senior officer.

This prestigious additions to the Vadodara IAF base mean more assignments, more aircraft, more personnel and more ground and air activities. Apart from the IAF, the Vadodara base will also be capable of handling tasks assigned by naval and army wings from all over the country, Air Marshal T J Master, Senior Air Staff Officer, Headquarters, South-Western Air Command, and Vadodara IAF base air officer Commanding Air Commodore P P Rajkumar told Express Newsline. According to them, this will be a major responsibility for Vadodara base.

Earlier, the Vadodara base had been conducting various ground and air practices and training personnel, but these activities were periodical. The deputation of the two wings to Vadodara enhances the challenge considerably from the defence point of view.

Rajkumar said there were long-term plans to station guided weapons — including the Aakash and the Trishul, considered among the best anti-aircraft missiles in the world — in Vadodara.

With these additions, the Vadodara base will have three major locations: Darjipura, Makarpura and Harni. Makarpura deals with the administrative tasks, while Darjipura and Harni, because of their proximity to the air-strip and the air-field, is in charge of operations.

Air Marshal T J Master, who inaugurated the officers’ mess and site for the officers’ complex here on Monday, also discussed various issues related to the squadrons with senior officials here.