India to upgrade airbase near Sino-Indian border to counteract China?//India to upgrade airbase to d

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2010-10-4 14:28
The Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground (ALG)


The Air Force has asked the government to approve a new airbase near the disputed Sino-Indian border in Ladakh where it can deploy all types of aircraft, including frontline fighter aircraft, as part of shoring up of infrastructure on the Chinese border. If the go-ahead is given for the new airbase at Nyoma (13,300 feet), located barely 23 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC), it would be the highest operational airbase of the IAF, significantly higher than the Leh airbase (10,700 feet).


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2010-10-4 15:42
The Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground (ALG)


A top IAF Commander has said that a proposal for developing the Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) into a full-fledged airbase has recently been forwarded to the government and the facility will take close to four years to complete once permissions are granted.


“The Nyoma ALG is to be expanded into a major base and a proposal in this regard has been sent to the government. It is being currently examined actively by the Defence Ministry,” said Western Air Command chief Air Marshal N A K Browne, who is responsible for air operations in the region. Sources said while the IAF planned to operate all types of aircraft, including fighters from the new base, permanent stationing of squadrons might not be feasible given the extreme climatic conditions at the altitude.


Air Marshal Browne, who is tipped to be the next Air Chief, said that the frontline Su 30 MKI fighters had been specially modified to operate from such altitudes and would be able to function from the Nyoma base. “Some (fighters) like the Su 30’s would be able to operate from the altitude,” he said. However, he warned that it could take close to four years to complete the airbase as facilities like parking bays, refuelling equipment and accommodation would need to be set up once the project was approved.


The Nyoma ALG was operationalised in September last year when an An 32 medium lift transport aircraft landed on the airstrip. In June, Defence Minister A K Antony also flew to Nyoma to have a look at the upcoming infrastructure at the ALG. At present, the IAF operates An 32 transport aircraft and helicopters from Nyoma.


The Air Force has activated three airstrips near the Chinese border in Ladakh over the past two years to connect areas that had so far been serviced only by helicopters. The first to be activated was the 16,200-foot Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) in 2008 — the highest landing strip for fixed-wing aircraft in the country. The 13,000-foot Fukche airstrip was
operationalised later.  (From Indian Express)



Will India develop the airbase near Sino-Indian border to counteract China?