Oman Tribune - the edge of knowledge
NEW DELHI As part of efforts to build up military infrastructure along the border with China, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday said it plans to develop a fighter aircraft base at Nyoma in Ladakh and is upgrading seven airfields for carrying out 24X7 operations in the northeast.
The IAF is also considering extending the runway length and upgrading the Kargil airfield close to the Line of Control with Pakistan, said IAF chief NAK Browne.
Nyoma is an important location for both the army and the IAF in the south east of Ladakh where we have good weather all round the year. The cost of developing the air base would be around Rs21,730 million and it will take 4-5 years to develop it, he said, addressing the 81st Air Force Day press conference here.
Browne said the proposal for developing the Nyoma air field was mooted in 2010 with the landing of an An-32 transport aircraft there. It is right now with the federal finance ministry and is expected to be taken up by the cabinet next month, he said.
All types of aircraft including fighters, helicopters and transport aircraft would be able capable of being deployed and operated from there, he said.
Browne said the airbase, located at an altitude of around 13,000 feet, is lower in height than the Advanced Landing Ground at Daulat Beg Oldie but was higher than the air bases in Leh and Thoise.
The IAF is operating with much less aircraft than its authorised strength of 42 combat squadrons and in case of any further delay in the proposed 126 fighter jet deal, the force levels in the service will go down rapidly, Browne said.
The authorisation is for 42 squadrons of fighter aircraft. Presently, we are much less than that. In the 12th and 13th Plan (2012-2022), we have to maintain a certain force level because that is where the maximum draw down is taking place. So, we lose a number of squadrons in these two plan periods, he said.
In case, Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft does not come to us in the end of the 12th Plan (2017), then our force levels will to go down rapidly, Browne said.
NEW DELHI As part of efforts to build up military infrastructure along the border with China, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday said it plans to develop a fighter aircraft base at Nyoma in Ladakh and is upgrading seven airfields for carrying out 24X7 operations in the northeast.
The IAF is also considering extending the runway length and upgrading the Kargil airfield close to the Line of Control with Pakistan, said IAF chief NAK Browne.
Nyoma is an important location for both the army and the IAF in the south east of Ladakh where we have good weather all round the year. The cost of developing the air base would be around Rs21,730 million and it will take 4-5 years to develop it, he said, addressing the 81st Air Force Day press conference here.
Browne said the proposal for developing the Nyoma air field was mooted in 2010 with the landing of an An-32 transport aircraft there. It is right now with the federal finance ministry and is expected to be taken up by the cabinet next month, he said.
All types of aircraft including fighters, helicopters and transport aircraft would be able capable of being deployed and operated from there, he said.
Browne said the airbase, located at an altitude of around 13,000 feet, is lower in height than the Advanced Landing Ground at Daulat Beg Oldie but was higher than the air bases in Leh and Thoise.
The IAF is operating with much less aircraft than its authorised strength of 42 combat squadrons and in case of any further delay in the proposed 126 fighter jet deal, the force levels in the service will go down rapidly, Browne said.
The authorisation is for 42 squadrons of fighter aircraft. Presently, we are much less than that. In the 12th and 13th Plan (2012-2022), we have to maintain a certain force level because that is where the maximum draw down is taking place. So, we lose a number of squadrons in these two plan periods, he said.
In case, Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft does not come to us in the end of the 12th Plan (2017), then our force levels will to go down rapidly, Browne said.
