Indian Air Force to reactivate airfield in Arunachal Pradesh tomorrow

[Sikh_warrior]

NEW DELHI: Against the backdrop of Chinese military infrastructure build up along its borders, India will on Friday activate an airfield in Vijaynagar in Arunachal Pradesh from where it will be able to operate its latest C-130J Hercules transport aircraft.

"The use of this airfield was discontinued in 2009 for carrying out repairs there. The airfield will be reactivated tomorrow by Arunachal Pradesh Governor General (retd) J J Singh," IAF officials said here.

After repairs, the airfield-- situated on the easternmost tip of the country located at the tri-junction of India, China and Myanmar, will be able to operate the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft along with the Antonov-32 cargo planes in the IAF inventory, they added.

The airfield is used for air maintenance and will help in mobilising troops and equipment at a faster pace in times of requirement.

This is the first advanced landing ground (ALG) in the Northeast to be upgraded as part of India's efforts to match Chinese military infrastructure development activities. It is also upgrading ALGs in Pasighat, Mechuka, Walong, Tuting and Ziro as well as several helipads in Arunachal.

IAF has so far activated its ALGs in Ladakh including Nyoma, Daulat Beg Oldi and Fukche and is planning to convert Nyoma in to a full-fledged air base.

India is also planning to raise a new Mountain Strike Corps after raising two new mountain infantry divisions to increase man power in the Northeast.

Indian Air Force to reactivate airfield in Arunachal Pradesh tomorrow - The Times of India

 

[Galaxy]

Arunachal Pradesh: India to re-activate air strip in Vijayanagar

Arunachal Pradesh: India to re-activate air strip in Vijayanagar

New Delhi, November 17, 2011

Wary of China's military infrastructure and capabilities build up in Tibet, India will on Friday "fully re-activate" an advanced landing ground (ALG) at Vijayanagar in Arunachal Pradesh.

The third such base in the border state after Tuting and Mechuka, it will facilitate operations of Indian Air Force (IAF) fixed wing aircraft like the Soviet-era AN-32s, officers said in New Delhi on Thursday.

The "upgraded" Vijayanagar ALG is located at the tri-junction of India, China and Myanmar in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. It will help India in quick mobilisation of troops and equipment to the borders during crisis situations.

"An IAF AN-32 carrying Arunachal Governor Gen. (retd.) J.J. Singh and Eastern Air Commander (chief) Air Marshal S. Varthaman will land at the ALG Friday to mark its reactivation," an officer said.

"The runway and other facilities have been upgraded to ensure operation of more types of IAF aircraft from there," the officer said.

The Vijayanagar ALG will be the fourth such facility India has created along its border with China in the last three years.

India had earlier opened Daulat Beg Oldi, Fukche and Nyoma ALGs in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir on its Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in the norther areas.

Vijayanagar will be the first such facility that IAF opens in the eastern sector along the LAC with China in recent years.

IAF also has plans to upgrade other eastern sector ALGs such as Pasighat, Walong and Ziro as well as several helipads in Arunachal Pradesh soon.

These efforts are part of India's military infrastructure build up to match up such efforts by China.

India has raised two new mountain divisions in the northeast and stationed them in Nagaland and Assam.

It has also based its frontline fighter planes, the Su-30-MKI, in Tezpur and plans to have another squadron of the aircraft in another air base in Assam soon.

Two new Akash missile squadrons too have been approved for the northeast in recent months.

Arunachal Pradesh: India to re-activate air strip in Vijayanagar : North News - India Today

 

[Ray]

It appears that the Armed Forces has been able to activate the lethargic Govt to wake up and smell the coffee.

 

[Galaxy]

IAF to set up hi-tech landing for Army on China LAC


In the ongoing effort to strengthen military infrastructure along the India-China border and keep pace with Chinese build up across the Line of Actual Control(LAC), the IAF will activate an advanced landing ground in Vijaynagar in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday. It will be the sixth such landing strip close to the LAC in the hilly and provide year -round logistical support to Army deployments on the border.

Stating this here on Thursday, officials said the landing ground would accommodate AN-32 transport planes besides helicopters. The AN-32 planes can carry more than 40 tons of equipment including weapons, troops and essential items and the Vijaynagar landing strip will cut down the time taken for delivering these items to the forward posts.

At present, the weapons and other equipment are ferried on mule back through inaccessible mountainous terrain and putting the Indian formations in a disadvantageous position vis-a-vis China. It has built modern infrastructure all along the 4,500 km-long LAC including all weather roads and landing grounds. India is going all out to negate this advantage at the earliest.

In fact, Defence Minister AK Antony on Tuesday expressed concern over rapid modernisation of Chinese infrastructure along the border and said India had also stepped infrastructural development in the north eastern States.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hold talks with Premier Wen Jiabao in Bali, Indonesia on Friday during the ASEAN summit in the back drop of China warning India on Tuesday about its military buildup including reported plan to deploy more than 1,00,000 troops on the LAC.

Sources said the two heads of state will discuss all the bilateral issues including the complex boundary dispute, trade and fostering more people to people relations. Moreover, the meeting will take place ahead of 14th round of talks on boundary dispute here in the last week of November between National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and his Chinese counterpart Dai Bingguo.

India and China will also hold the annual defence dialogue in Delhi on December 9 between Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma and his Chinese counterpart. The dialogue and military to military interaction between the two countries was put on hold by India last year after the then Northern Command chief Lt General BS Jaswal was denied a visa by Beijing as it questioned the status of Jammu and Kashmir.

As regards landing grounds in Arunachal Pradesh, the IAF has five such strips and three of them are able to accommodate transport planes. The reactivation of Vijaynagar landing ground will add to the operational preparedness of the armed forces, officials said.

Helicopters could only land at Vijaynagar base till three years back and the government then gave the ahead to the IAF to upgrade it to enable the big transport planes to operate from there.

Incidentally, the IAF in the last two or three years activated at least three advanced landing grounds in Ladakh region facing China to bolster logistical base. These bases located at heights ranging from 13,000 feet to 18,000 feet are Nayoma, Fuckhe and Daulat Beg Oldie and two of them can handle AN-32s, sources said.

Moreover, the IAF plans to upgrade the runway at Kargil airport to enable giant transport planes like IL-76s and C-10 Globemasters to land. The project will take about two to three years and will provide additional capabilities to cover vast areas in that region which remains cut off for more than five months due to snow.

Elaborating on the ongoing projects in the north-east states, officials said at least 30 landing grounds and small airports were identified for modernization and the entire process was expected to be completed within the next four to five years.

The Government was also laying great stress on building at least 17 strategic roads in Arunachal Pradesh and this project was also expected to be completed in four years.

IAF to set up hi-tech landing for Army on China LAC

 

[The Messiah]

since when do we have f-18's ?

 

[Galaxy]

since when do we have f-18's ?

Where F-18 is mentioned in the news article ??

 

[The Messiah]

Look at the pic.

 

[Ray]

The raising of offensive mountain divisions, the awe inspiring purchases of military hardware contrary to India's lethargic view to acquisitions, upgrading of infrastructure, roads and the fevered construction of a network of roads has put the heejie beejies into China.

That apart, the growing strategic ties of India with the West as also the show of force by the US in the Pacific Rim, first with the navies of the region in response to Chinese aggressive postures in the South China Sea and the basing and further anticipated increase of defence assets in Australia has caused really consternation within the Chinese Leadership and military.

China feels being strangulated and hence there is this flurry of hyperactive commentaries being seen in the Govt media.

The Indian move is correct to indicate that there is a limit to bullying the neighbours and they are capable of biting back by doing exactly the same thing they have been doing for their "Peaceful Rise", camouflaged with pithy homilies and pious platitudes.

The neighbours are also in the mood to 'peacefully rise'!!

 

[Galaxy]

Look at the pic.

Check again, It's Sukhoi 30MKI not F-18 8)

 

[The Messiah]

Check again, It's Sukhoi 30MKI not F-18 8)

Now that looks better!

Also that f18 was landing on aircraft carrier....and article is about arunachal pradesh

 

[Galaxy]

Now that looks better!

Also that f18 was landing on aircraft carrier....and article is about arunachal pradesh

Which F-18 ?? It was always Su 30MKI. Smoke less dude.

 

[The Messiah]

Which F-18 ?? It was always Su 30MKI. Smoke less dude.

i am not paaji.....click on link to the article 8)

 

[Galaxy]

 

[Galaxy]

 

[Galaxy]

[h=1]IAF Antonov-32 after landing at Vijaynagar, Arunachal[/h]

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Look like short airfield, MIG-29 may able to operate from there..

 

[Galaxy]

Look like short airfield, MIG-29 may able to operate from there..

As per IAF chief, Only transport aircraft like An-32, C-130 can operate. airfield is too short for fighter jets. Anyway, Our need is transportation only. Su MKI from Chabua/Tezpur/Jorhat (Assam) can hit deep into Tibet. We needed fast mobility of troops from various Assam location to A.P. border.

Indian Army build-up not against China: Air Chief - Indian Express

 

[Kunal Biswas]

As per IAF chief, Only transport aircraft like An-32, C-130 can operate. airfield is too short for fighter jets. Anyway, Our need is transportation only. Su MKI from Chabua/Tezpur/Jorhat (Assam) can hit deep into Tibet. We needed fast mobility of troops from various Assam location to A.P. border.

Indian Army build-up not against China: Air Chief - Indian Express

Mig-29 is capable in doing short landing and take offs..

That`s why Mig-29..



Though Gunships ( MI-17V5 & MI-35, APACHE, LCH, Rudra ) can operate from their, Huge Relief..

 

[utubekhiladi]

the airport does not looks like it is secured. 3-5 terrorist can easily movie in easily and smack down precious planes using rpg

 

[Galaxy]

the airport does not looks like it is secured. 3-5 terrorist can easily movie in easily and smack down precious planes using rpg

You need to understand the purpose of these airfield. These are not regular Airbases. It's airfield which will be used when needed. In war or hostile scenario, We can send 10,000 odd troops from various Assam army division to A.P. in a single day by using 10-15 C-130J, An-32, Transport Heli. Also, it will help Army for CAS (LCH, ALH, Apache).

We don't need to operate fighter jets. Then we will need quality SAM, Radar and all other equipment too and it would be difficult to operate due to high terrain. It would be risky to have airbase so close to china border. We will install few things when needed not like permanente airbase. Our all MIG29 and MIRAGE is located in Pujab and Gwalior respectively. We only be operating MKI and MMRCA later as fighter jets in Assam/A.P.. These are high combat jets and can fly 5,000 KM. We have 5 Airbase in Assam for that purpose. Sukhoi 30 MKI in Tezpur can reach A.P. border within 10 minutes. So, it serves the purpose. In short, These airfields are for transportation of troops, logistics, support for natural disaster and CAS for army by Attack helicopter. That what we need. A very good step by MoD.

There will be many more airfields like Pasighat, Walong and Ziro which will be upgraded soon beside existing Vijaynagar and Tawang.

One more good thing to know that ex COAS J.J. Singh is governor of A.P.