Navy to upgrade Dabolim airport with a Shore Based Test Facility

In order to cater to the induction of new combat aircrafts taking place in the Indian navy, the multi-role force has decided to press ahead with its long-delayed expansion plan of the Dabolim airport, situated 30 kilometres from the Goa’s capital Panaji.

Times of India reports that the naval authorities are making preparations to build a Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) which will be used by its Light Combat Aircrafts (LCAs) and MiG 29K fighter jets.

Commanding Officer of the Naval station INS Hansa, Captain Surendra Ahuja informed the media persons that the SBTF being built at INS Hansa, would be only the second of its kind in the world and would be used to train the fighter before they attempt take-off and landing on aircraft carriers.

To complement the new SBFT facility, the navy is also constructing a 1,255metre strip with a ski jump facing the sea. The ski jump is on the similar lines of the one available on aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which the navy would be inducting, after its refit at Sevmash shipyard in Russia is concluded.

Amongst the other new facilities planned at Dabolim, the Indian navy intends to construct three new hangers and set up two new simulators. The latest upgrade plan is a conscious ploy of the Indian government to upgrade training facilities within the military establishment with an aim of reducing accidents in the future. The government has also inducted new Hawk AJTs from United Kingdom to enhance training for IAF pilots. In addition to this, the IAF is also in the process of acquiring new turboprop training aircrafts in order to phase out the vintage era HPT-32, which it used before grounding them.