In a boost to the Indian Air Force’s operational capability along the eastern sector border with China, seven Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs), which have remained abandoned since the 1962 war, have been upgraded, refurbished and are now ready for use.
Sources in the IAF’s eastern air command based in Shillong told DH that seven ALGs at Tuting, Mechuka, Along, Wallong, Ziro, Tawang and Pasighat have been upgraded and are ready for use for military purposes while work at another ALG in Vijaynagar was under way.
Most of the ALGs were either destroyed during the 1962 war with China or had remained abandoned since then, but the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in 2009 decided to upgrade them and enhance the IAF’s operational capability along the eastern borders. The reconstruction work began in 2013.
Apart from the Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft, AN-32 transport aircraft and helicopters, sources say, the new capacity build-up will enable operations of some of IAF’s new inductions, including the C-130J Super Hercules. According to sources, the ALGs have been upgraded as part of the MOD’s plan to boost defence infrastructure along the China border, keeping in mind China’s frequent claims over Arunachal Pradesh.