India’s Air Force chief has carried out the first landing of a military transport aircraft at a newly built high-altitude airbase in Ladakh, a strategically sensitive region along the disputed Himalayan frontier with China, a senior defense official said on Thursday.
The landing performed by Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh in a C-130J Super Hercules on Wednesday—took place at the Mudh-Nyoma air force station, located roughly 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) above sea level. The official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that the airfield is now capable of supporting fighter jet operations.
The Indian Air Force and Ministry of Defence have not yet issued public comments.
Situated only 30 km (19 miles) from the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the new base becomes the third major air station in the region and significantly enhances India’s rapid-response capability in the high-altitude sector.
Retired Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor wrote on X that the new airfield “will add a new challenge for both of our adversaries,” referring to China and Pakistan. He noted that China operates an airfield at a comparable elevation on its side of the border.
Although relations between India and China have shown signs of improvement highlighted by a landmark military de-escalation pact in October 2024 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China earlier this year Indian officials and analysts say deep mistrust lingers. India’s Army chief has pointed to persistent troop deployments and ongoing infrastructure expansion by both sides along the frontier.
The two countries share a 3,800-km (2,400-mile) undemarcated border that has been disputed since the 1950s and was the site of a brief but intense war in 1962. Tensions sharply escalated after a deadly clash in 2020, but bilateral relations have gradually warmed following the 2024 agreement that restored limited travel links and official exchanges.
