New Delhi: Aiming to beef up its operational capability in Eastern Ladakh, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is expanding the taxi track at the Leh airport which will enable it to use it as a landing and take off strip for its fighters and transport aircraft.
This expansion, which includes new aprons and aircraft shelters, will act like a second operational surface other than the main runway which is also used by civilian aircraft.
The IAF is not calling the expanded taxi track as a runway because it is smaller than what the regulations say for civilian operations but is long enough for fighters and military transport aircraft.
This upgrade is part of the focus on at least 20 air bases along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
In the imagery posted on social media platform ‘X’, satellite imagery expert Damien Symon stated that it will likely handle an increased military and civilian air traffic and ensure uninterrupted operations amid tensions with China.
“This development is crucial for maintaining India’s military posture along the Line of Actual Control and Siachen,” he added.
Bolstering its military capabilities amid tensions with China, the Indian Air Force is constructing a second parallel runway at the Leh airbase in Ladakh, this development is crucial for maintaining India's military posture along the Line of Actual Control & Siachen pic.twitter.com/P3uMF9O0vZ
— Damien Symon (@detresfa_) June 15, 2024
The new construction, he said, would allow the IAF to carry out “operations of various fighters, UAVs & helicopters, which have significantly increased due to current border tensions. The strategic air base also plays a key role during winter when road access is cut off by snow.”
The length of the taxi track would be approximately 2000-metres, according to the imagery.
The Leh airbase is of strategic importance as it was through this IAF asset that 68,000 soldiers, 90 tanks as well as several radars among others were deployed in the aftermath of the 2020 Galwan clash.
The air force has been ramping up its infrastructure in this strategic region. It finished blacktopping the Nyoma airfield early this year. As reported by ThePrint, upgradation of Eastern Ladakh’s Nyoma airfield, which is the world’s highest airfield, located at 13,700 ft, was to facilitate fighter jet operations along the LAC.
In addition, the IAF has in the last four years, constructed several facilities to boost its infrastructure. The Chabua air base, for instance, got a new apron in addition to the hardened aircraft shelters among other developments.
China, too, has been keeping infrastructure updated. As reported by ThePrint earlier, the Hotan airbase, which comes under the PLA’s Western Theatre Command is crucial for air operations.
In April, the neighbouring country activated its second runway at Hotan as well as constructed several military buildings and aprons. The air base hosts several of the Chinese air force’s aircraft including the J-11, 3-20, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and Advanced Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) and Electronic Warfare platforms.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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