Hasimara Air Force Station

Hasimara Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is located in Alipurduar district, West Bengal, India. Hasimara is located strategically near the Indo-Bhutan border. It is also the closest Indian air base to the Chumbi Valley - the tri-junction between the Indian state of Sikkim, Bhutan and the Tibet Autonomous Region.HistoryIt is established in the sub-Himalayan region of West Bengal after the Sino-Indian War of 1962, completed 50 years of operational existence in April 2013. The Airforce station was activated on April 7, 1963, when an IAF Caribou aircraft landed and dropped off its first Station Commander, Wing Commander DG King-Lee. The decision to establish the air base here was taken after the 1962 war, which had just ended. The airbase took active part in the Indo-Pak conflict of 1965 and the Indo-Pak war in 1971.It is home to No. 22 Squadron IAF and No. 222 Squadron IAF in India.FacilitiesThe airport is situated at an elevation of 2,066 ft/630 m above mean sea level. It has one runway with concrete surfaces: 11R/29L measuring 9,000 by 148 feet (2,743 by 45 m).