India Activates Strategic Airbase Close to Border with China
The facility, Mudh-Nyoma airbase, was officially inaugurated when Indian Air Force Chief Marshal A P Singh touched down Wednesday aboard a C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, underscoring the installation's operational readiness.
Perched at approximately 13,000 feet (3962.4 meters) above sea level, the airbase occupies a commanding position just 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from the Line of Actual Control demarcating Chinese territory. The installation's versatility is a key strategic advantage: it "can be used by fighter jets, helicopters and transport planes," according to the report.
Military officials underscored the installation's defensive value. "Operationalization of the airbase is expected to boost the Indian military's combat readiness in the sensitive sector," officials stated, highlighting its role in strengthening New Delhi's posture in this contested region.
The project demanded substantial investment and coordination. The Border Roads Organization executed construction beginning in September 2023, completing the airbase at a cost of approximately INR 218 crore (about $24 million).
The activation represents a significant expansion of India's aerial capabilities in the territory. Mudh-Nyoma becomes the fourth operational airbase in Ladakh, joining existing facilities in Leh, Kargil, and Thoise—a doubling of the region's air defense network over recent years.
Ladakh's strategic importance intensified following its administrative restructuring in August 2019, when it was separated from Jammu and Kashmir and established as a Union Territory, formalizing New Delhi's governance over the disputed region.
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