Indian Air Force activates Nyoma airfield close to China border
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force in a significant move today activated its Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) to support the Army in carrying out operations in the inhospitable terrain. An IAF AN-32 aircraft landed at Nyoma ALG, which is located at an altitude of 13,300 feet in Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir, at 6:25 am Friday. It is 23 km from the Line of Actual Control. (LAC). The successful landing of a fixed-wing aircraft at Nyoma marks the culmination
of joint effort by the IAF and Indian Army to enable the IAF to operate in the inhospitable terrain of Leh-Ladakh region in support of the Army. The landing
comes just fifteen months after an AN-32 landed at Daulat-Beg-Oldie (DBO), the
highest airfield in the world situated at an altitude of 16,200 feet. Group Captain
SC Chafekar touched down on the Nyoma airstrip, Air Marshal NAK Browne, Air Officer
Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command and Lieutenant General PC Bharadwaj,
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command on board. Though helicopters
have been landing at this ALG, this is first time a fixed-wing aircraft
has landed at the compact airstrip of Nyoma. After deliberating on all aspects
and carrying out aerial and ground inspection, it was concluded that Nyoma could
be developed for fixed-wing operations as well. The Engineer Regiments of 14 Corps
undertook the herculean task of developing the ALG to the standards required for
fixed wing operations. Joint development of Nyoma braving the extremely difficult
working conditions and hostile weather is yet another step towards enhanced joint
partnership between the two services. Nyoma has been developed with an aim to
connect the remote areas of Ladakh region to the mainland. This would also ensure
movements in the area when the road traffic gets affected, during the harsh winters
besides enabling improved communication network in the region.
