NEW DELHI – The Standing Parliamentary Committee of Defence Affairs visitedthe Jaisalmer Air Force Station and the Military Area on Wednesday andobserved the operational preparations.
In the meeting with the Army and Air Force Officers, they discussed aboutthe activities across the border, operational preparations for dealing withthe enemy, deployment of new equipment and weapons and potential threat.
The officials explained to them about all operational preparationsincluding joint land and air operational preparation of the army and airforce during the war.
Air Force officers told about the importance of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer,Uttarlai, Bikaner and Phalodi airbase on the western boundary located inthe distance of three hundred km and also gave information about airoperational preparations They also told about the strength of Sukhoi 30,especially upgraded fighter aircraft and also gave information about thecommunication system to monitor every activity across the border.
In addition to this, they provided information about army exercise inPokhran and recent successful trial of the tanks, missiles and all otherequipments. In the meeting, officials said that there will be shortage offighter aircrafts due to the start of the phase-out of MiG seriesaircrafts. They also told the committee about tanks, armored vehicles,weapons and lack of ammunition.
On this, the committee members told that the defence sector is the firstpriority for the government. The government is serious about militaryrequirements. The process of procuring all modern equipment including arms,tanks for the army and the new aircraft, arms and equipment for the airforce is underway. With the purchase of new weapons, the construction ofindigenous weapons is also going on fast. Modernization work is going onfast in the army and air force and the three armies will be made morepowerful.
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Lok Sabha MP, who is also thePresident of this committee, is himself retired Army Major General.Therefore, under his leadership, committee members are observing andunderstanding about operational activities of the Army and the Air Force,near the border in Rajasthan.
After taking stock of army and air bases in Jaisalmer and meeting withofficials, the team reached the Tanot mata temple by helicopter. Aftersighting there, they watched the cross-border activities from the Bablianborder post along with the BSF officials. Defence Parliamentary Committeewill come to Barmer on Thursday morning and will visit the uttarlai airbaseand the Jalipa Army cantt. They will also check the munabao border post.
Apart from Khanduri, the committee includes eighteen MPs including MPKalraj Mishra, Sanjay Raut and others. The committee reached Jaisalmer onwednesday after seeing the preparations of the Army and Air Force inJodhpur. After visiting Barmer, Committee members will visit Jodhpur onFriday and will take information about the equipment and weapons designedfor the army in Defence Laboratory.
*Exercise and trials*
Air Force officers provided information about army exercise in Pokhran andrecent successful trial of the tanks, missiles and all otherequipments. After taking stock of army and air bases in Jaisalmer andmeeting with officials, the team reached the Tanot mata temple byhelicopter. They watched the cross-border activities from the Bablianborder post along with the BSF officials.Defense Parliamentary Committeewill go to Barmer on Thursday morning and will visit the uttarlai airbaseand the Jalipa Army cantt.