New Delhi, January 20: Water salute was given to SU-30MKI fighter aircraft at the induction of the 222 ‘Tigersharks’ fighter squadron at Thanjavur air base in Tamil Nadu on Monday. India's first squadron of multirole Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets was inducted by Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria. 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.  According to a tweet by ANI, 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. Air Chief RKS Bhadauria Formally Inducts FIS Dornier Aircraft into No 41 Squadron.

Watch Video:  Water Salute given to he SU-30MKI Fighter Aircraft

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.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 20, 2020 01:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).