Hasimara Air Force Station
Hasimara Air Force Station (ICAO: VE44)[1] is an Indian Air Force (IAF) base located in Alipurduar district, West Bengal, India. Hasimara is located strategically near the Indo-Bhutan border. It is also the closest Indian air base to the Chumbi Valley - the tri-junction between the Indian state of Sikkim, Bhutan and the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Hasimara Air Force Station | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||
| Operator | Eastern Air Command | ||||||||||
| Serves | Indian Air Force | ||||||||||
| Location | Hasimara, West Bengal | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 340 ft / 104 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 26°41′53″N 089°22′08″E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  Air Force Station Hasimara  Air Force Station Hasimara | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Source: ourairports.com[1] | |||||||||||
History
It is established in the sub-Himalayan region of West Bengal after the Sino-Indian War of 1962, completed 50 years of operational existence in April 2013. The Airforce station was activated on April 7, 1963, when an IAF Caribou aircraft landed and dropped off its first Station Commander, Wing Commander DG King-Lee. The decision to establish the air base here was taken after the 1962 war, which had just ended. The airbase took active part in the Indo-Pak conflict of 1965 and the Indo-Pak war in 1971.
It was home to No. 22 Squadron IAF in India.[2]
Facilities
The airport is situated at an elevation of 2,066 ft/630 m above mean sea level. It has one runway with concrete surfaces: 11R/29L measuring 9,000 by 148 feet (2,743 by 45 m). Extension and upgradation of the base is going on for Rafale; which will soon call it home.
Assets
In 2018-19, Hasimara Airforce station had a squadron of Mikoyan MiG-27 which were phased out. From May 2020, the IAF will house the Second Squadron of No. 101 Squadron IAF with latest Dassault Rafale fighter jets at Ambala Air Force Station and Hasimara Air Force Station.[3]