Banaskantha Airbase: There is a famous phrase that says ‘Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty’. India is surrounded by two hostile nations Pakistan and China. Both of them have fought several wars against India. It is an open secret that both of them have forged a tacit alliance and may launch a simultaneous two-front war. That is why, it becomes important to analyse and predict the opponent’s moves and have an unassailable advantage over the opponent.
To have an edge over the opponent, logistical connectivity and state-of-the-art border infrastructure plays a crucial role. However, for decades, Congress governments followed a defensive ‘cowardly ’ strategy. Once UPA Defence Minister AK Antony had acknowledged the fact that India lacked crucial defence infrastructure and logistical connectivity. He brazenly highlighted the cowardly policy of the Congress regimes. It believed that the best defence strategy was ‘to not develop the border’. Undermining the Indian Armed Forces, the Congress Minister said that an undeveloped border is safer than developed border.
However, the Modi government has been developing the border infrastructure at a war footing. To highlight the changed scenario under the Modi government and fright in our enemies, let me give an example.
One of the main reasons for the ongoing India-China border conflict is the rapid development of border infrastructure. The Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) road and airstrip has given India strategic advantage over China which has badly rattled our northern neighbour.
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India’s aggressive move, builds airbase right next to Indo-Pak border
Recently, PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of a new strategic air base in Deesa, Gujarat. The strategic air base will be crucial for national security and will be the country’s first line of defence against enemy attacks from the south-western side. During the foundation laying event, PM Modi highlighted Deesa’s proximity to the Indo-Pak border. He said that now India is better prepared to respond to any misadventure on its western borders.
PM Modi launches new strategic air base in Gujarat's Deesa
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— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) October 19, 2022
The air base will be built with a massive investment of around Rs 1000 crores. It will be spread across 4519 acres. It will be constructed in two phases. In the first phase, the main runway, parallel taxi track, loop taxi track, road connectivity and fighter Squadron dispersal area will be constructed. The Banaskantha Airbase will be equipped with smart fencing, sensor-based lighting and solar power among other state-of-the-art amenities. In the 2nd phase, balanced technical infrastructure and domestic accommodation will be constructed.
The air base will have one air strip with a runway length of around 1000 metres. The runway length is crucial as it can land the large and heavy aircrafts like Boeing 716 transport aircraft. New generation fighter aircrafts like Boeing C-17 Globe master, Sukhoi, MIG-29s and Tejas can take off from this air base in times of need.
The air base has been meticulously designed by the Military Engineering Services (MES), with the expert guidance from BISAG, IIT Roorkee and CRRI Delhi.
History of the Banaskantha Airbase project
As per the Indian Air Force officials, the land was acquired for the IAF in 1983. The IAF was given in-principle approval for the airbase in 2000 by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. However, his government fell before the work on the project could begin. The successive UPA governments stalled the development project as highlighted above. They followed the cowardly policy of undeveloped borders to secure the nation. After the massive floods in Banaskantha in 2017, the project was finally revived. In times of crises, the air bases can be used for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR).
In March 2018, the Cabinet Committees on Security (CACS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the plan of this air base. Now, as per PM Modi, the Banaskantha Airbase will be ready in 21 months. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
Deesa Air base will strengthen the South-Western Air Command (SWAC)
The newly developed Deesa Banaskantha Airbase will be the 52nd air base to be built in the country. It will be the 6th air base in the state of Gujarat. Currently, the IAF has air bases in Baroda, Jamnagar, Bhuj, and Naliya (Kutch).
The SWAC is headquartered in Gandhinagar and it has 5 air bases so far. These include Bhuj and Naliya Air bases in Gujarat, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Barmer air bases in Rajasthan. The SWAC covers the airspace of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. So, the Deesa Banaskantha Airbase will reduce the tactical gap between the air bases and enhance IAF’s capabilities by many folds.
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At the event, the Indian Air Force showcased a video to highlight the strategic importance of the Deesa air base. As per official statement, it will reduce the tactical gap of 355 km between the Bhuj and Uttarlai air bases. Additionally, it will reduce the gap between Naliya Air base in Gujarat and Phalodi Air Base in Rajasthan. This will in turn significantly increase the operating range of our fighter aircrafts and reduce the response time.
Deesa air base will enhance India’s offensive capabilities
With this air base, India has taken an aggressive stance. It has built this air base just 130 km away from the Indo-Pak border. Usually, air bases are not built in such a close proximity to the international border. The Deesa air base will provide the IAF with a faster offensive and deeper penetrative capabilities. Operating from this air base, the IAF can even launch operations in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Flying at Mach 2.0, Indian fighter aircrafts can cross the international border in two minutes.
Also Read: India’s Hasimara Air Base is giving China a headache at the eastern frontier
Deesa air base: India’s defensive armour, will make airspace impregnable
The Air force base in Deesa will create an impregnable shield against the enemy. It will defend the World’s biggest oil refinery in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Further, it will safeguard the Industrial Zones in Gujarat. As per an estimate, the industrial zones in and around cities like Ahmedabad, Bhau Nagar and Baroda in Gujarat are worth over one trillion dollars. So, in case of attack or war, these crucial economic hubs could be the initial target location. Hence, the strategic location of Deesa air base will give it a safety armour against any possible enemy attack.
To safeguard it from enemy attack, the air base will have Next Generation Hardened Aircraft Shelter (NGHS). These hardened bunkers can protect the aircrafts from a bomb attack weighing over 1000 kgs. As per reports, the Modi government has sanctioned Rs 5500 crore for the construction of these bunkers. Currently, 108 NGHS are proposed to be built across borders to solidify India’s air force defences.
As per media reports, IAF will deploy its air defence fighters like MiG-29 and Tejas on this base. They will intercept and destroy any incoming enemy fighter aircrafts. As per some claims, IAF may secretly deploy S-400 triumph to make India’s airspace invincible and impregnable. If the S-400 is deployed on the Deesa air base, it will limit Pakistan’s air force capabilities. The S-400 can shoot down any aircraft within the circle of 400 km which will cover more than 250 km of Pakistani airspace.
Additionally, Indigenous helicopters and Indigenous RADAR will also be deployed here.
In case of a full-fledged war, the IAF will overwhelm PAF and gain air-superiority. In that case, it will be helpful in launching coordinated land and sea operations from the western front of the country.
Deesa air base will break the spine of Pakistan’s Air Force
US provided F-16 fighter aircrafts are the main backbone of Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The PAF doesn’t trust Chinese aircrafts like JF-17 Thunder as these substandard Chinese aircrafts are not battle tested. That was the main reason why PAF used F-16s to launch a retaliatory attack on India after the air strike. Evidently, back then, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman foiled Pakistan’s attack and shot down F-16s.
As per an agreement with the US, Pakistan can officially deploy F-16s only in Jacobabad Air base. Pakistan can live up to its expectations and cheats the US to deploy F-16 elsewhere against India. The IAF is well prepared for that eventuality also.
The Deesa air base can launch attacks on all the air bases in which Pakistan can deploy F-16s. Within no time, the IAF can strike on Pakistan air bases in Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad and Jacobabad.
The Bhuj air base played a crucial role in the 1971 war. With more state-of-the-art air bases like Deesa air base, India is advancing its air advantage against its enemies. With rapid development in border infrastructure and upgrading our weaponry, India is fully prepared for any eventuality our sworn enemies may try to create including a full-fledged two-front war. In those extreme cases, India will use these air bases to launch pre-emptive strikes to overwhelm Pakistan and completely decimate it.
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