With militarily active borders on both sides of the country, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will imminently begin constructing 108 Next-Generation Hardened Aircraft Shelters (NGHASs) for its fighter fleet at several of its bases in northeastern India. The Hardened Aircraft Shelters will be made of concrete and cost an estimated total of INR55 billion (USD788 million), will be built at Tezpur, Chabua, and Hasimara
The hardened blast panes are meant to safeguard the frontline Su-30MKI, Jaguars, Mirages and the upcoming Rafale aircraft from 2,000- pound enemy bombs in case of a war. While the proposals are under the consideration of the defence ministry since 2015, the air headquarters had made a fresh pitch for its approval given the rapidly changing security dynamics in India’s neighbourhood.
The hangars are designed by the state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation. Each of these hangars would be made up of reinforced concrete, would be having iron doors and maintenance facilities. The new hangars are designed to protect the fighters even from a direct hit by a 2,000 lb bomb, and are to be fitted with iron doors to minimise the chances of fragmentation damage to the platforms from a missile strike.