With the motive of enhancing the security parameters and capabilities to monitor the strategically important Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Indian Air Force has, on Monday, stationed the squadron of Sukhoi fighter jets in Thanjavur Air Force Base in Tamil Nadu.

Thanjavur Air Force Base has become the first such base to house the fleet of high profile and multi-tasked fighter jets in South India and the deployment was seen the move of surveilling the waters of Indian Ocean, which is one of the important water bodies of India and to meet the country's aerial and maritime roles in the territory. The reports say that this specific squadron of the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets had equipped with the capabilities of carrying the Brahmos supersonic missiles on them.

Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat has inducted the jets in the presence of senior defense officials including Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria. The reports have stated that the Su-30 jets have been one of the powerful fleets of Indian Air Force as the jets carry the multi-role capacities of undertaking the on-air, on-ground, and on-water defense missions. After having been equipped with the Brahmos missiles, the squadron has installed with the efficiency of launching strikes into the Indian Ocean as the Brahmos missiles have been empowered to hit the target of around 300 kilometers.

On Monday, the Thanjuvar based '222 squadron', which was deactivated in 2011, was again recommissioned with eight jets. While addressing the ANI, Indian Air Force Chief Bhadauria said that "SU-30MKI with BrahMos is the strongest maritime combination that we have, in terms of weapon capability. Thanjavur is the ideal location because of access to both the east & west sides&Indian Ocean Region. It will bring huge capability in support of Navy".

The inauguration had witnessed the water salute for the Sukhoi jets and the 222 squadron has the jets that are known as 'Tigersharks' and it was involved in the 1971 war with Pakistan. The squadron was formed in 1969 with seven Sukhoi jets.