The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday said that its Su-30MKI fighter jets conducted a long-duration mission in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), covering both the eastern and western coastline of the nation.
"Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighter aircraft carried out eight-hour-long missions in the Indian Ocean Region. The aircraft were supported by mid-air refuelling aircraft and covered both the eastern and western seaboards of the country," the IAF tweeted.
This comes amid reports of China building a ground station in the Sir Creek area, located to the west of India's Rann of Kutch region, a part of its Gujarat state.
Additionally, China is reportedly building a surveillance post in Myanmar's Coco Islands that it allegedly leased from the Southeast Asian country's military rulers in 1994. In fact, the control of the Great Coco Island and Little Coco Island was handed over to Myanmar by India in 1948.
The two islands are geographically a part of india's Andaman and Nicobar group of islands, lying only 55 kilometres from the Delhi-held archipelago in the northeastern Indian Ocean.
Besides, Andaman and Nicobar hosts a major naval and air force base of the Indian armed forces and is vital to its security interests in the IOR.
The two islands are geographically a part of india's Andaman and Nicobar group of islands, lying only 55 kilometres from the Delhi-held archipelago in the northeastern Indian Ocean.
Besides, Andaman and Nicobar hosts a major naval and air force base of the Indian armed forces and is vital to its security interests in the IOR.