[4] The airfield was built and used by the Royal Indian Air Force (RAAF) in 1940 during World War II as a base for its Lockheed Hudson, Vickers Wellington, Hawker Hurricane, and P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft.

The land acquisition for revamping the entire airfield began in 2006 and was completed and inaugurated by the former on 27 May 2013 by the former Minister of Defence, A. K.

The development works are expected to take at least a year to complete, after receiving nods from the state and central governments and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Land acquisition for the project is yet to be done; meanwhile, the work on a 4-lane airport approach road is yet to be started after receiving permission and assistance from the Government of Tamil Nadu.

The unit was tasked with peacetime Search and Rescue and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.