Air Force Station In India

Coimbatore Air Force Station

Coimbatore AFS is well established as the Sulur Air Force Station nearby southern city of Coimbatore. The Indian Air Force operates this military airport in Tamil Nadu state. Located at the elevation of 1,250 ft. / 381m., this airport is a key airbase for the southern command of India’s Air Force. Exactly located at Kangayampalayam area nearby the famous city of Coimbatore in this state, Sulur Air Force Station or Coimbatore AFS is now used to control the Southern Command of the Air Force and remains a busy airport since more than half century now. It has seen ample growth prospects over the decades especially after modernization of India’s security forces which welcomed a drastic improvement in the Air Forces as well.

History

There is a rich history behind creation and development of Coimbatore AFS close to Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore city. Having been established even before the country’s independence in the year 1940, Coimbatore AFS of today plays pivotal role as an airbase of repute. This airbase would have been used primarily by the Royal Navy of the then British Rulers but once India attained freedom it became integral part of the security forces of the free country.

Coimbatore AFS would have remained an important location during World War II as well while this airbase had turned into a strategic base for the Fleet Air Arm of the then Royal Navy named Royal Navy Air Squadron (RNAS). It would have been used as a major location to be a repair base where the Southeast Asian aircrafts would be often witnessed during wartime.

A jolt came to the then Coimbatore AFS on August 26, 1942 while the 1942 August revolutionaries burnt the Airbase to protest British rule in India. Once Indian Royal Air Force arrived in this region in 1943, the airbase finally welcomed a shift to nearby Sulur region. Other shifting happened in 1949 post country’s independence with shifting to Cochin. Indian Navy of free India utilized the erstwhile airbase for a new purpose for the maximum security of India from the southern borders as well.

Establishment of INS Hansa was one of the revolutionary steps for the effective operation of Sea Hawks. When Goa was liberated and became integral part of India then shifting of INAS Hansa to Dabolim airfield became possible. It was a time while Sulur or Coimbatore AFS became free for the Indian Air Forces to use so did they took over it thereafter.

Several other developments happened over the period like development of Number 05 Base Repair Depot in 1955. Likewise, full-fledged functioning of Indian Air Force started from 1959 and since then Coimbatore AFS became the major base for it in the southern part of the country. The civil aviation department too used this airbase for some time in between. Its runway had once been used for motorcycle and car racing as well especially during the 1960s. This airbase became fully operation for Air Force from January 14, 1984 and has major contribution for it till now.

Runways

Coimbatore AFS has modern runway today which is being used to operate Indian Air Force aircraft operations as well as for training purposes. The runway is ready to play the key role in the 2013-14 squadron of HAL Tejas (LCA) being first operation squadron of its kind.

Units at Coimbatore AFS

With fast growth since last couple of decades upon being controlled by the Air Force team, several units work together at Coimbatore AFS. Southern Command though mainly controls this airbase.

Kendriya Vidyalaya

Coimbatore AFS has been developed in the planned manner and so has it seen the timely incorporation of training and infrastructure ever since getting operated by the Indian Air Force fully. This airbase includes establishment of Kendriya Vidyalaya and training centers.

Photo Gallery