India will send an air force contingent of about 250 people for peacekeeping operations under the United Nations flag in Congo.

It is the first time that the IAF is sending such a big team on such a mission, defence sources said on Tuesday.

Air chief S Krishnaswamy will be present when the group, led by Group Captain K S Gill, leaves on July 11 to the east of Congo, where forces opposed to the government of Joseph Kabila have been active.

The contingent, which will be there for around a year, will coordinate with personnel of the armed forces from other countries, the sources said.