World's highest fighter airfield to be built in Ladakh
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has announced plans to construct the world's highest fighter airfield in Ladakh's Nyoma region. The official announcement came on Sunday (September 10), and the project's inauguration is scheduled for today, September 12, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presiding over the laying of the foundation stone at Devak Bridge.
Cost: The construction of this airfield in the challenging terrain of Ladakh will require an estimated budget of around Rs 218 crore.
- An airfield is a designated area of land, often equipped with prepared runways, where aircraft can take off, land, and operate.
Nyoma airfield in Ladakh: चीन सीमा से सिर्फ 50KM दूर, 13000 फीट ऊंचाई पर, 218 करोड़ लागत... लद्दाख में सबसे ऊंचा एयरफील्ड बनाएगा भारत#NyomaairfieldinLadakh @sunilJbhat @AbhishekBhalla7
— AajTak (@aajtak) September 12, 2023
https://t.co/S43R7zbuDH
- Airfields can serve various types of aircraft, and the one India is currently building is intended for military fighter planes.
13,000 feet above sea level
- Nyoma is situated at a high-altitude location, boasting an elevation of 13,000 feet above sea level. This poses unique challenges for aviation due to the lower air density and reduced oxygen levels at such heights.
The Significance
- Wondering why this airfield is needed? It holds immense strategic importance. Located a mere 46 kilometers away from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, it stands as the closest airbase to China.
#BROInNationBuilding#NyomaAirfield@BROindia will be constructing World's highest fighter airfield at Nyoma in Ladakh.
— 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (@BROindia) September 10, 2023
Shilanyas of this project will be done by Hon'ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on 12 Sep 23 from Devak Bridge in Jammu.
Jai Hind! Jai BRO!!…
- This proximity allows for swift and efficient transportation of both personnel and essential supplies, making it a crucial hub for mobility in the region.
- The existing Nyoma airstrip currently features a mud-based runway, facilitating the landing of specialized cargo aircraft like the C-130J and helicopters, as reported by India Today.
- However, upon the completion of the new runway, larger transport aircraft will be able to operate from Nyoma, thereby expanding the Indian military's strategic reach.
In addition to the airfield project, Defense Minister Singh is set to inaugurate and dedicate 90 infrastructure projects valued at Rs 2,941 crore, all of which have been constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) today.
According to Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhry, the head of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), a total of 295 projects valued at Rs 11,000 crore have been successfully completed in just the past two to three years, as reported by ANI.