Upgrading Nyoma Airfield into a full-fledged fighter base would help the IAF deal with the Chinese misfortune.
Post Date – 12:20 AM, Sat – 1/7/23
Upgrading Nyoma Airfield into a full-fledged fighter base would help the IAF deal with the Chinese misfortune.
Hyderabad: The Ministry of Defense’s decision to upgrade the strategic Nyoma airfield in eastern Ladakh into a full-fledged fighter base is a welcome move given China’s aggressive push for infrastructure and military build-up along the border. The ability to operate fighter jets from this area will enhance the Air Force’s ability to respond to any unfortunate event by an adversary. Nyoma airfield, less than 50 kilometers from the Line of Actual Control (LAC), has been used to transport personnel and supplies during the ongoing standoff with Chinese forces, and has seen the action of Chinook heavy helicopters and C-130J special operations aircraft.
As Beijing rapidly builds the ability to operate fighter jets near eastern Ladakh, India urgently needs to expand its ability to operate fighter jets from facilities near the border. The Border Roads Organization has invited bids to upgrade Nyoma Airport, near the Indus River, about 180 km southeast of Leh, at an altitude of 13,700 feet, at a cost of Rs 2.14 billion. At the 1,235-acre site, a 2.7-kilometer runway will connect to Allied military infrastructure. Nyoma’s route allows aircraft to land from both directions. The project will help counter Chinese military actions in the region. Since 2017, China has been building or upgrading 37 airports and heliports in Tibet and Xinjiang. The pace of this activity accelerated significantly in 2020, when China began construction of seven aviation facilities and initiated the upgrade of another seven airports and heliports.
New roads, railways and infrastructure are complementing the expansion of air power – allowing troops to move quickly. In 2021, China has completed the construction of a road and tunnel system connecting Nyingchi and facing Arunachal Pradesh, allowing the army to easily enter the actual control line. The long-running standoff in Ladakh has seen China build massive infrastructure along the LAC in the form of bridges, roads and airfields; the obvious goal is to enable the rapid movement of troops and equipment, overcoming the constraints imposed by difficult terrain. It is a huge challenge for India to keep pace with its neighbours, even as the standoff at the border continues despite 17 rounds of commander-level talks, the latest being held on December 20 last year.
The December 9 incident in the Yangtze River region of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district, in which Indian troops thwarted attempts by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to unilaterally change the status quo, again showed the need for India to be more vigilant and prepared along the route. Ready for battle. Latin America and the Caribbean. The construction of Langerik Airport in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh is also in line with the strategy to ensure the smooth running of Air Force activities.
