The induction of new generation aircraft like the Rafale, C-130J and C-17 into the Indian Air Force (IAF) mandates improved infrastructure and networking in airfields to maximise their utility and effectiveness for everyday operation and wartime purposes. Older aircraft like the MiG-21, MiG-27 do not possess the onboard equipment to take advantage of a modern airfield. A contemporary airfield is equipped to handle air operations and traffic management in all weather conditions. It has smooth logistics, protection against threats with air defence systems, passive protection to parked aircraft when under attack, and is able to reduce the threat of Foreign Object Damage (FOD) and bird hits while emergency units handle other unforeseen incidents.

Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules at Srinagar Air Force station

 Airfield Infrastructure

The need for Modernisation of Airfield Infrastructure (MAFI) was felt more than a decade ago by the Indian Air Force (IAF) but progress was made in 2011 when the ministry of defence (MoD) signed a Rs 1,100 crore contract with TATA Power SED for modernising 30 IAF and Indian Navy bases across the country, eight of which include those at Chabua, Tezpur and Hashimara are in the east bordering China. Phase I of the project was scheduled to be completed by 2014 but as of December 2017 only 25 airfields have been completed and the rest are to be completed by June 2018. The central part of the upgrade is the Raytheon AutoTrac Air Traffic Management System but it also includes Tactical Air Navigation System (TACAN) to aid aircraft navigation, Instrument Landing System (ILS) like the CAT-II lighting system to facilitate aircraft landing in poor visibility, Identify Friend or Foe (IFF), Distance Measuring Equipment, secure UHF Ground to Air Communication systems and Computed Direction Finding Equipment. Despite the long delay the project nearing completion is encouraging. The delay in completion of Phase I has pushed behind plans for Phase 2 modernisation under which there are 25 more air bases. Gwalior and Chandigarh will be the first of the bases planned to be modernised as part of Phase II.