Boosting IAF capabilities with ‘TigerSharks’, India raises new squadron inducting Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet

New Delhi, January 20: Boosting the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) capabilities in peninsular India and help keep an eye on the Indian Ocean Region where Chinese footprint is growing at a swift pace, IAF is raising a new squadron of Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets at the Thanjavur air force station in Tamil Nadu on Monday. The Sukhois will be equipped with the air version of the BrahMos cruise missile. The No. 222 squadron, nicknamed Tiger Sharks, is being raised with six Su-30 fighter jets and it will have its full complement of 18 warplanes by the year-end.

 

Giving a water salute to SU-30MKI fighter aircraft at the induction of the 222 ‘Tigersharks’ fighter squadron, the aircraft is modified to carry BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. The 222 Squadron, also known as `Tigersharks’ was raised at Air Force Station Ambala on 15 Sep 1969 with Sukhoi Su-7 aircraft. The 222 Squadron, also known as 'Tigersharks’ was raised at Air Force Station Ambala on September 15, 1969 with Sukhoi Su-7 aircraft.

The newly resurrected 222 Squadron is now operationalised with Brahmos equipped Sukhoi-30 air superiority fighter with twin-engine at Air Force Station in Thanjavur. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said the decision to deploy the Su-30 MKI at Thanjavur was taken due to its strategic location. Bhadauria added saying that the SU-30 MKI inducted at the air base is equipped with special weapon- BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a twin-jet multirole air superiority fighter developed by Russia's Sukhoi and built under licence by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). A variant of the Sukhoi Su-30, it is a heavy, all-weather, long-range fighter.

The `Tigersharks’ are equipped with formidable, state of art air superiority fighter aircraft. They are armed with 2.5-ton air-launched BrahMos missile of 300 km range, which have the capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions. The capability of the missile coupled with the superlative performance of the Su-30 MKI is all set to change the paradigm of maritime surveillance, security, and strike in the region.