India Moves Ahead With Plan To Build New Airfield In Eastern Ladakh Amid Tensions With China

In a development that would bring significant strategic advantages, India has moved a step forward for the construction of an airfield in Ladakh’s Nyoma.  

A report in News18 says, bids have been invited for the construction of an airfield at Nyoma, one of the highest advanced landing grounds (ALG) in Ladakh. 

The construction will be completed in two years. The project will cost around Rs 214 crore, the bid document revealed.

The construction site will span around 1,235 acres, with a 2.7 kilometre long and 45-metre wide airstrip. The alignment will be done in a way to allow planes to land and take off from either side.

The ALG will be located at 13,000 feet, said Border Roads Organisation, which has invited bids for the construction.

The location of the ALG will be close to Nyoma, not far from the Leh-Loma road, which is 180 km from Leh but is just 50 km away from the LAC. This will have strategic implications, allowing faster movement of men and materials, close to the LAC, News18 reported.

Nyoma ALG was until now used by AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, Mi-17, Chinooks transport helicopters and C-130J transport planes. This development will allow the use of heavier C-17s and IL-76s and fighters like Tejas, Rafale and Sukhoi from the ALG.

Tensions have flared up between India and China, since the 2020 Galwan clash, where Chinese and Indian soldiers were killed. Last month, some soldiers were injured in a clash at Yangtse, in Arunachal Pradesh, another flashpoint.