Bot at 16:09, 24 August 2022

2022-08-24T16:09:40Z

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{{Short description|Airforce base in Odisha, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2022}}

{{Infobox airport
| name = Charbatia Air Base
| nativename = ARC Field
| nativename-a =
| nativename-r =
| image =
| image-width =
| IATA =
| ICAO =
| type =
| owner =
| operator = [[Aviation Research Centre]]
| city-served =
| location = [[Cuttack]], [[Odisha]], [[India]]
| pushpin_map = India Odisha#India
| pushpin_label = '''Charbatia AFS'''
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of the airport in Odisha
| elevation-f = 115
| elevation-m =
| coordinates = {{coord|20|32|58.63|N|085|53|10.54|E|region:IN_type:airport|display=inline,title}}<ref name=wad-cuttack>{{cite web|url=http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?id=IN86910&sch=charbatia|title=Cuttack|publisher=World Aero Data|access-date=2011-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729230806/http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?id=IN86910&sch=charbatia|archive-date=29 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| website =
| metric-rwy = y
| r1-number = 04/22
| r1-length-m = 2743
| r1-length-f = 9000
| r1-surface = Asphalt
| r2-number =
| r2-length-m =
| r2-length-f =
| r2-surface =
| footnotes = Source: [[DAFIF]]
}}
'''Charbatia Air Base''' is located approximately 12 km north of [[Cuttack]], [[Odisha]] in eastern [[India]]. It is an [[aerial reconnaissance]] post of the intelligence agency's aviation unit, the [[Aviation Research Centre]] (ARC). The Research and Analysis Wing, India's primary foreign intelligence agency, operates intelligence collection aircraft through the ARC. The aircraft are fitted with electronic surveillance equipment and long range cameras capable of taking pictures of targets from high altitudes. The base, built with the assistance of the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] in the early 1960s and developed through till 1990s, was used for aerial surveillance and intelligence gathering of [[Pakistan]] and [[China]]'s strategic forces. The first aircraft was delivered in the mid 60s and was a World War II vintage C-46 which was outfitted with an oxygen distribution system for operator and flight personnel along with surveillance electronics and recording equipment at the Air America base in Tainan, Taiwan. The installation was supervised by the design engineer, Mr. Kent Williamson. Mr. Williamson, along with other experienced personnel also deployed to Charbatia to train the first operator and maintenance personnel. Later additions to the surveillance equipment include specially outfitted [[Boeing 727]] and [[Gulfstream III]] jets.

The air base is spread over {{convert|2000|acre|km2}}. In 2011, the Government of India which controls the airbase announced that it will be converted into a full-fledged [[Indian Air Force]] station with six [[C-130J Super Hercules]] transport aircraft.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/195417/kargil-major-air-base-2016.html|title=Upgrading air bases to counter attacks: IAF chief|date=10 October 2011|access-date=16 February 2012|publisher=Deccan Herald}}</ref><ref name=telegraph-base>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101102/jsp/Odisha/story_13127519.jsp|title=Air chief wants base in Cuttack|date=2010-11-01|access-date=2011-10-03|location=Calcutta, India|work=The Telegraph|first=Subhashish|last=Mohanty}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=od-charbatia>{{cite news|url=http://Odishadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=26420|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729081625/http://odishadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=26420|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-07-29|title=Odisha CM says IAF likely to set up operational base at Charbatia|date=2011-05-04|access-date=2011-10-03}}</ref> But the plans for setting up such a station was subsequently cancelled and the [[C-130 Hercules]] transport unit was shifted to Panagarh in West Bengal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2016/jan/31/IAF-Boosts-Bengal-to-Tame-Dragon-875733.html | title=IAF Boosts Bengal to Tame Dragon | date=31 January 2016 | newspaper=The New Indian Express | first=Arup | last=Chanda | access-date=28 July 2018 }}</ref>

==References==
<references />
{{Airports in India|state=collapsed}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Transport in Cuttack]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force bases]]
[[Category:Airports in Odisha]]
[[Category:Research and Analysis Wing]]
[[Category:Aerial reconnaissance]]
[[Category:1960s establishments in Orissa]]
[[Category:Military airbases established in the 1960s]]
[[Category:Airports with year of establishment missing]]

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Charbatia Air Base - Revision history

Bot at 16:09, 24 August 2022