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Proud moment for India: IAF lands aircraft at Kargil airstrip at night, Watch the daring video!


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The Indian Air Force (IAF) achieved a significant milestone on Sunday with the successful night landing of an IAF C-130 J aircraft at the Kargil airstrip. This mission, characterized by terrain masking enroute, showcased the IAF’s prowess in operating in challenging environments.

Indian Airforce Aircraft Kargil Landing Video

Kargil Airport

Kargil Airport is a military airfield in Kargil district 6 km (3.7 mi) away from Kargil and 217 km (135 mi) from Leh. The Kargil airstrip is located at an altitude of around 10,500 feet.

The defence ministry has also been focusing on enhancing infrastructure at almost all airfields along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including the Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) as per operational requirements.

It is especially boosting infrastructure at the Daulat Beg Oldi Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) as well as the Nyoma airstrip. The Daulat Beg Oldi ALG is located close to the LAC at an altitude of 16,700 feet and is known as the highest airfield in the world.

Temperatures in Daulat Beg Oldi drop up to minus 40 degrees Celsius during harsh winter months. The Nyoma airfield is located at a height of around 13,000 feet.

Why is this so important?

The ALG (Advanced Landing Ground) in Kargil is located at an altitude of around 10,000 feet and is a restricted airstrip with unidirectional approach surrounded by rough terrain. It also does not have night landing facilities. Earlier, transport aircraft have been landing here during the day and this was the first night landing.

This demonstrates the capability to carry out specialised missions round the clock in this area, an official said.

The Kargil ALG is also significant because this is the only airstrip in this area becoming critical for any exigency. In Jammu and Kashmir, the IAF has full-fledged airfields at Srinagar, Awantipora, Udhampur, Jammu. In Ladakh, the IAF has airfields at Leh and Thoise and ALGs at Nyoma, Fukche and Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO).

Upgrading ALGs

For instance, following approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in June 2009, the IAF took up a project to upgrade eight ALGs in Arunachal Pradesh at an estimated cost of ₹1,000 crore which have since been operationalsied. The eight ALGs in Arunachal Pradesh include Tuting, Mechuka, Along, Tawang, Ziro, Pasighat, Walong and Vijaynagar. In addition, several new emergency landing strips were developed on national highways across the country.

Further, the ALG Nyoma, located at an altitude of about 13,700 feet and close to the South Bank of Pangong Tso is very close to the LAC in eastern Ladakh, is now being converted into a full runway of over 9,000 feet, making it capable of handling fighter jets. Work which commenced last August is expected to be ready by 2025.

The ALG at Daulat Beg Oldi at an altitude of 16,700 feet is located very close to the LAC and is very critical for aerial connectivity to the Sub-Sector North.

IAF Announcement

The official announcement on X highlighted the uniqueness of the night landing at the Kargil airstrip, emphasizing the integration of terrain masking techniques during the flight.

The post stated, “In a groundbreaking achievement, an IAF C-130 J aircraft recently executed a night landing at the Kargil airstrip. Utilizing terrain masking enroute, the exercise also seamlessly incorporated a training mission for the Garuds,” as shared by the Indian Air Force on X. The IAF noted that the exercise served as valuable training for the Garuds, enhancing their capabilities in conjunction with the night landing operation.

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