The first Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft equipped with BrahMos missile has been inducted into the Indian Air Force on Monday in the presence of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. Making India proud, IAF has scripted history after inducting first Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft equipped with BrahMos missile which can hit the target at a distance of 300 km.
DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy was also present during the ceremony. A water salute was also given to the fighter aircraft at the induction ceremony of the 222 ‘Tigersharks’ fighter squadron.
Sukhoi-30 MKIs, jointly developed by India and Russia, are the backbone of the IAF. The first Russian-made Su-30MKI variant was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2002, while the first indigenously assembled Su-30MKI was taken into service in 2004.
Recently, the IAF successfully fired the BrahMos air version missile from its frontline Sukhoi Su-30 MkI fighter aircraft. Now, the induction of Sukhoi-30 MKIs equipped with the BrahMos missile will enhance the capability of IAF.
“The Indian Ocean Region (IOR), which is a central maritime spread bordering three continents, has an important role to play in regional peace, security, and prosperity. The IAF is an intrinsically strategic force and is all set to extend the reach into the vast IOR,” Air Marshal Amit Tiwari said last week, adding that this will be the IAF’s second front-line fighter jet squadron to be based in the south.
In the video, one of the Sukhoi-30 MKI jets can be seen receiving water salute. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said that the decision to deploy the Su-30 MKI at Thanjavur was taken due to its strategic location.
BrahMos is a supersonic medium-range liquid-fuelled ramjet-powered cruise missile that can be launched from sea, land and air. It has a range of about 300 km and now India is working on increasing its range to 450 km after India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
