India's bid to counter 'assertive' China

Making facilities to take battle tanks to border

This would be done, first by upgrading the high-altitude Nyoma air-field in Ladakah – within 23 km of the line of actual control – for supporting fighter and heavy-lift operations and later making a hard landing strip at Daulat Beg Oldie – 10 km from the border – enabling touch down of heavy troop carriers.

“We plan to expand Nyoma base. The proposal has been forwarded to the defence ministry,” said NAK Browne, commander-in-chief of the Western Air Command.

Defence Minister A K Antony who expressed concerns at Beijing’s increasing “military assertiveness” last month visited Nyoma in June. Troop-carriers AN-32 landed in Nyoma for the first time more than a year ago.

Asked whether expansion of the base, located at an altitude of 13,300 ft, means undertaking fighter operations at Nyoma, Browne said: “Expansion means we should be able to operate each and every type of platforms including the fighters.”

Old fighters
While old generation fighters like the MiG may not be able to operate at high altitude with low air pressure, new generation Su-30 were “specifically designed to operate at such an elevation,” the commander-in-chief  said.

Since the current runway at Nyoma and DBO are made out of compactified rubble, there are limitations in operations. But with a hard strip the new C130 J and the upcoming C-17, which the IAF is buying from the USA would be able to touch down at Nyoma.

This means if the need arise C-17 – world’s heaviest transport plane with 75 tonne capacity – could be used to ferry tanks and heavy artillery tantalisingly close to the border.

India’s main battle tanks, Russian origin T-90 and T-72, are in the 40 tonnes category. While T-90 weighs about 46.5 tonnes, T-72 is slightly lighter with 41.5 tonnes. Both should not pose any problem to C-17.

Deal with US
New Delhi is also all set to ink an agreement with the United States to purchase 10 Boeing C-17 during President Barak Obama’s visit in November.

But it would take awhile before Nyoma can support fighter and heavy-lift operations.
“We will take 3-4 years to make it fully functional because at an altitude of 13,000 ft, only 7 to 8 months in a year are available for construction.

“Cement does not dry in winters and besides the hard surface we have to make parking, refuelling and safety facilities, ” Browne said.

However, operationalising DBO at 16,000 ft altitude would be a different ballgame.
Though the IAF plans a hard strip at DBO too in the long run, fighters may not be able to operate there and transport planes may have to operate at only half of their capacity, said an IAF official.

While tanks are ruled out, radars and more troops can be carried to DBO at the base of the Karakoram pass. With Nyoma, DBO and Fuckche in operation, the IAF is not activating Chusul, the fourth advanced landing ground in the region.