Paved runway at Nyoma base ready, first landing this month

The Indian Air Force’s upcoming base at Nyoma in Eastern Ladakh near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) will witness the first formal test flight and landing on its newly paved runway this month.

Initial flight trials on the runway were conducted during summer. Now, the allied infrastructure – including landing aids and ‘shoulders’ of the runway — is taking shape. The base could also be formally inaugurated in the coming weeks, said sources.

In September last year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had laid the foundation of the work to convert the mud-paved runway at Nyoma into a fully-paved runway, capable of carrying out full-fledged operations.

The Rs 214-crore project entails having an airfield for fighter jets. Once the base is fully ready, it will have the ability to launch and recover planes and also carry out minor maintenance jobs. Situated 180 km south-east of Leh, it will be the IAF’s fourth operational base in Ladakh.

The project also matches the rapid infrastructure development by the Chinese across the LAC. Nyoma, located on the banks of the Indus is at an altitude of 13,700 feet and is just 30 kms from the LAC. A natural flat area spread over 1,235 acres, it was earlier used by helicopters and special operation planes like C-130 J, which can land on the mud-paved runways. Besides, the alignment of Nyoma is such that aircraft can land and take off from both directions.

After the military stand-off with China in April 2020 along the LAC and the subsequent clash at Galwan in Eastern Ladakh in June 2020, a major air effort was launched.

Over 68,000 Army soldiers, around 90 tanks, nearly 330 BMP infantry combat vehicles, radar systems, artillery guns and other equipment were airlifted by the IAF after the Galwan clashes.

At the start of the stand-off, IAF deployed its Su-30 MKI and Jaguar jets for round-the-clock surveillance and intelligence gathering on the enemy build-up. Since then squadrons of Rafales and MiG 29 have also been deployed at Ladakh.

Will be IAF’s 4th base in Ladakh

• It will be the IAF’s fourth operational base in Ladakh. The other three full-fledged airstrips in Ladakh are located at Leh, Kargil and Thoise
• Once Nyoma base is ready, it will have the ability to launch & recover planes and also carry out minor maintenance jobs.