IAF's Hercules lands in Ladakh

Landing coincides with strategic talks between India and China

The Indian Air Force’s most modern aircraft, C130J Super Hercules, landed at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) in Ladakh on Tuesday. Daulat Beg Oldie, the world’s highest airfield, located at an altitude of 16,614 feet, lies within 10 km of India’s de facto border with China.

Significantly, the landing coincided with the commencement of a strategic dialogue between India and China in the capital on Tuesday. Talks will be held between Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh and her Chinese counterpart Liu Zhenmin. The diplomatic dialogue resumed after three years.

The US-origin carrier, acquired for special operations, landed on DBO’s make-shift compacted runway at 6:54 am. It stayed there for 40 minutes before returning to its home base at Hindon in Ghaziabad. The aircraft from the Veiled Viper squadron was commanded by Group Captain Tejbir Singh.The operation, sources said, marked the beginning of regular C130J flights to the desolate airstrip to support Indian Army personnel guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

“The achievement suggests India’s advanced capabilities to induct troops and improve communication network near the LAC. It also serves as a great morale booster for maintenance of troops positioned there besides projecting the IAF’s capability of operating in such inhospitable terrain in support of the Indian Army,” said an IAF spokesperson.

DBO is located close to the Depsang Bulge where Chinese troops intruded 19 km into the Indian territory in April, triggering a face-off that continued for 21 days. Guarding DBO is strategically vital for India to prevent unfettered enemy access to Leh.

DBO also provides India an opportunity to keep an eye on the Karakoram pass and the Chinese highway G219, which cuts through Aksai Chin running parallel to the LAC and connects Yecheng (Karghilik) to Lhatse (Tibet).

A branch of this highway connects with the Karakoram Highway (G314), providing China and Pakistan access from the Gwadar port in Pakistan.Besides acting as an important Army forward post, DBO also links the ancient silk route to China.

Built during the Sino-Indian conflict in 1962, this base was used by the IAF to operate its Packet aircraft between 1962 and 1965. In 2008, the strategic base in the northern Himalayas once again gained importance when it was resurrected by the IAF, along with the Indian Army. A twin engine An-32 aircraft from Chandigarh landed there after 43 years. Since then, An-32 aircraft and helicopters have been landing there.

Considering their limited load-carrying capability, the IAF decided to operate the C130J-30 aircraft, capable of carrying up to 20 tonnes. However, its actual tonnage at DBO will depend on the weather. In winter, when the temperature is low, it can carry more load.