The advanced airfield in Arunachal Pradesh comes as a big shot in the arm for the Air Force.
Highlights
- IAF's refurbished advanced landing ground or ALG to open on Aug 19
- Forward airfields had been used during 1962 India-China war
- China has 15 airfields in Tibet autonomous region
The Indian Air Force is getting a new airfield in Arunachal Pradesh, barely 100 km from the border with China. The refurbished advanced landing ground or ALG at Pasighat in south east Arunachal Pradesh will be operational from August 19.
The advanced landing ground comes as a big shot in the arm for the Air Force as heavy fighters like the Su-30MKI and heavy lift transport planes like the US-built C-130J Super Hercules aircraft can now use the airfield. It will be one of the operating bases under the Eastern Air Command capable of operating all types of aircraft and helicopters.
"This airfield is as good as new, with a completely state-of-the-art airstrip" a senior IAF officer told NDTV. " Pasighat ALG is a strategic asset it is capable of operating all types of aircrafts and helicopters. It improves our response time. Besides it will also increase our air operations in the eastern frontier," Group Captain Amit Mahajan said.
This is the fifth forward airfield that has been refurbished and opened up for air operations in recent times. Earlier this year, the forward airfields at Mechuk, also in West Siang district and Ziro, Along and Walong were made operational.
The forward airfields or the advanced landing grounds had been used during the 1962 India-China war to airlift troops and supplies but their use was subsequently stopped. Most of these airfields including the Pasighat air strip were partly paved with grassy patches. Some of the other advanced airfields were reinforced by perforated steel sheets. Pasighat airfield was taken over the Indian Air Force in 2010.
Plans to refurbish the seven advanced airfields in Arunachal Pradesh were cleared by the government in 2009 for a cost of about Rs 1,000 crore. The decision to refurbish and operationalise forward air fields was taken following massive infrastructure development across the 1,080 kilometre border of Arunachal Pradesh. China has 15 small to medium airfields in Tibet autonomous region from where fighters can be fielded.