Nyoma Airbase: World's Highest Fighter Airfield's Runway Set For Completion By October

India is on track to finish the construction of a 2.7-km runway at the Nyoma airbase in Ladakh by October 2024, marking a significant step in bolstering infrastructure along its frontier with China, as per the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) chief, Lieutenant General Raghu Srinivasan.

On 12 September, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for the airfield. The construction of this airfield is estimated to cost Rs 218 crore.

Colonel Ponung Doming is spearheading the project at an elevation of 13,700 feet, approximately 23 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Allied infrastructure, including hangars, an air traffic control building, and hard-standing areas, is slated for completion by the end of next year.

"We've been operating round-the-clock shifts to accelerate the project. Despite the challenging terrain, BRO has efficiently mobilised its resources to ensure strategic readiness for the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the earliest, providing the air force with multiple operational options," Srinivasan stated, reports Deccan Herald.

Strategic Significance of Nyoma

Nyoma is on the southern shores of Pangong Tso and holds immense strategic importance due to its proximity to the 3,488 Km stretch of the LAC.

The construction of the Nyoma airfield will not only enable the seamless operation of heavier transport aircraft but also pave the way for the deployment of fighter jets, including the MiG-29 and Su-30 MKI. The new runway will bring these formidable aircraft much closer to the LAC, enhancing India's defensive posture in the region.

This move was aimed at providing essential support to troops stationed in forward areas, conducting surveillance operations, and gathering crucial intelligence.

The Nyoma airstrip, dormant since the 1962 India-China war, was revived by the IAF in September 2009. The IAF has since deployed various aircraft, including the C-130J special operations aircraft, AN-32s, and helicopters, from Nyoma to support military operations along the LAC.

In 2020, amid heightened tensions between India and China, the Indian Air Force made a pivotal decision to deploy a fleet of Mi-17 medium-lift helicopters, CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, and AH-64E Apache attack helicopters at Nyoma.

BRO has completed 330 projects worth Rs 8,737 crore over the past three years, significantly enhancing the military's strategic mobility along the LAC. These projects reinforce India's deterrence strategy against China.