Overview
- The resurfaced strip is roughly 2.7 km long and 43 m wide, with expanded aprons to speed parking, refuelling and turnarounds.
- A renovated taxi track can function as a secondary runway during emergencies or surge operations, increasing flexibility.
- Officials said Su-30 MKIs will start operating from the base, with Mirage jets expected to join later for long-range firing and strike drills.
- The facility is intended to enable quicker long-range firing exercises and to support more missile test activity in the islands, according to reports.
- Authorities said the airfield will also back RCS–UDAN connectivity and strengthen disaster-relief logistics for the tsunami-prone archipelago.