IAF's BKT base to be expanded for multiple air operations

LUCKNOW: The 38 wing of Indian Air Force at Bakshi Ka Talab in Lucknow will undergo a major expansion to be ready to deal with multiple air operations.

Currently a base for Jaguar fighters and second home of Surya Kiran aerobatic team, which conducts training sorties to hone the flying skills, the IAF base will be turned into a full-fledged facility to handle fighter jets and cargo.

TOI visited the base and interacted with officials on Thursday. "Across the country, IAF is upgrading and expanding its existing bases. BKT base, too, will be expanded. Till date we are handling fighters and their maintenance, but now on occasions we are landing wide body aircraft such as C-130 J Super Hercules," said a senior IAF official.

In next few years, this station will become full-fledged base handling multiple aircraft and technical expertise,” the IAF official said.

Established at 15 Wing Bareilly in October of 1963 as 8 care and maintenance unit, the unit moved to its present location in 1966 under the administrative and functional control of Headquarters Central Air Command.

The 11 squadron (Sqn) with Dakotas (transport aircraft) moved to BKT station in 1966. They used to operate ferry trips to Car-Nicobar.

In 1980, Air Defence Flight (ADF) moved into this base. Later, the ADF moved to Bareilly in 1992. In the same year, 71 RMU (Radio Maintenance Unit) moved into this base.

In January 2006, 35 Sqn (electronic warfare and air superiority) moved to this base. Currently the BKT is full-fledged lodger unit.

“The BKT base was formed to provide basic facilities at short notice to aircraft as and when required. Later, it was transformed to 38 Wing in November 2014,” said another IAF officer.

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