India to deploy advanced aircraft along Pakistan, China borders

NEW DELHI: As part of a plan to build up forces along the borders of Pakistan and China, India on Monday deployed four Sukhoi fighter aircraft on Tezpur airbase in Assam along the Chinese border. The base would soon have a full squadron of the multi-purpose Sukhoi aircraft. Along the Pakistani border, the Indian Air Force would deploy a Sukhoi squadron each in Halwara near Ludhiana in Punjab and Jodhpur in Rajasthan by the end of 2010. Chabua, another fighter base in Assam, is also being prepared to host a Sukhoi squadron in the future. IAF plans to acquire over 200 Russian-made Sukhoi in the next five years.