Air Force Station Arjan Singh


Air Force Station Arjan Singh[Eastern Air Command (India)|], formerly Panagarh Airport, is an airport serving the city of Panagarh, in the state of West Bengal in India. Now it's an Air Force base under
Eastern Air Command of Indian Air Force.

History

During World War II, the airport was used as a supply transport airfield from 1942-1945 by the United States Army Air Forces Tenth Air Force and as a repair and maintenance depot for B-24 Liberator heavy bombers by Air Technical Service Command.
The airport has numerous wartime relics, with abandoned taxiways and a large concrete parking ramp remaining, although not used and in a deteriorating state.
In 2018 the airport was renamed after Arjan Singh.

Facilities

The airport is at an elevation of 73 m above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 15/33 with an asphalt surface measuring 2743 m by 46 m. The Air Force is planning to deploy six mid-air refuelling tanker aircraft at Panagarh air base in West Bengal. With the deployment of these tanker aircraft in Panagarh, the striking range of fighter planes like Su-30 MKIs based in Tezpur and Chabua will be enhanced as these can get fuel mid-air. Panagarh is also the likely location of a proposed Army Mountain Corps headquarter.