![](https://bharatshakti.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LT-BSI-Defence.gif")
In a powerful display of India’s high-altitude air capability, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh today flew a C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft to land at the newly constructed Nyoma airfield in eastern Ladakh, formally inaugurating the facility. The flight represented the operational readiness of one of the world’s highest advanced air bases, now officially known as IAF Station Mudh-Nyoma.
Located just 30 kilometres from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, the airfield marks a transformative step for the Indian Air Force (IAF) in sustaining forward air operations. Built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under some of the harshest weather conditions on earth, the project replaces an old mud landing strip with a fully paved runway capable of handling fighter jets, transport planes, and helicopters.
Watch a documentary filmed at Nyoma and the nearby areas, aired on our sister channel, StratNews Global in May 2024 by clicking here.
Strategic Edge at 13,700 Feet
Perched at an altitude of 13,700 feet and roughly 180 kilometres southeast of Leh, Nyoma sits on the banks of the Indus River and now becomes the fourth operational IAF base in Ladakh, joining Leh, Kargil, and Thoise. The new station significantly enhances India’s ability to project air power and sustain long-duration operations close to the northern and eastern frontiers.
Nyoma airfield will enable quick troop movement, logistics support, and round-the-clock operations in forward areas.
From Dirt Strip to Combat-Ready Base
Until recently, Nyoma was little more than a rugged Advanced Landing Ground (ALG), a mud-paved stretch where only small aircraft could land. The new all-weather runway, constructed over the past year, allows for landing, take-off, and maintenance of combat and transport aircraft. Support facilities for refuelling, radar operations, and crew habitation have also been established, ensuring sustained air activity throughout the year, even in sub-zero winter temperatures that often dip below –20°C.
With its new status, Nyoma can now serve as a forward operating base for fighter jets, providing India with the flexibility to respond swiftly to any contingency in the Ladakh sector.
Expanding India’s Air Infrastructure
The Nyoma airfield is part of a larger plan to strengthen India’s air infrastructure in the Himalayas. The Ministry of Defence is also reviving the Chushul Advanced Landing Ground, just 4 km from the LAC, which played a vital role during the 1962 India–China war. Once upgraded, Chushul is expected to handle UAVs, helicopters, and special operations aircraft such as the C-295 and C-130J.
Together, Nyoma and Chushul will dramatically increase India’s ability to monitor, supply, and sustain its positions across eastern Ladakh, while also supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions in the region.
Determination and Preparedness
Experts see the Air Chief’s decision to personally pilot the inaugural flight as a strong message of confidence in India’s defence preparedness. The ability to operate heavy aircraft at such an altitude demonstrates the IAF’s enhanced logistical and technological competence in high-altitude warfare environments.
With the commissioning of IAF Station Mudh-Nyoma, India now possesses a formidable forward airbase that blends strategic reach with operational flexibility, a development that not only strengthens defence capability but also reaffirms India’s resolve to safeguard its borders under the most challenging conditions.
Huma Siddiqui
