The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday operationalised the strategically vital Mudh-Nyoma airbase in eastern Ladakh, marking a major enhancement in India’s airpower posture along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The milestone was underscored by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, who landed at the newly upgraded facility aboard a C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, signalling the base’s readiness to support heavy-lift and combat operations.
Located at an altitude of around 13,000 feet and just 25 km from the LAC, the airbase dramatically improves India’s operational depth in a region that has witnessed heightened military tensions since the 2020 border standoff. Senior officials said its operationalisation will significantly strengthen the IAF’s rapid deployment capability, surveillance reach, and logistical efficiency in one of the world’s most challenging high-altitude theatres.
Air Chief Marshal Singh was accompanied by Western Air Command chief Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, highlighting the strategic importance the Air Force attaches to the new airbase. The landing marked the completion of a ₹218-crore Border Roads Organisation (BRO) project that was launched to expand and harden the existing Nyoma airstrip into a fully operational airbase capable of handling a diverse range of aircraft.
The expansion marks the culmination of an effort that began with the laying of the foundation stone by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in September 2023. With the completion of this project, Mudh-Nyoma is now equipped to host fighter aircraft, transport planes, and helicopters, enabling the IAF to conduct integrated and sustained operations across the eastern Ladakh sector.
The operationalisation of Mudh-Nyoma adds a fourth strategic Air Force base in Ladakh, complementing existing facilities in Leh, Kargil, and Thoise. Among these, the Kargil airstrip, located at an altitude of about 10,500 feet, has played a key role since the 1999 conflict but lacks the proximity to the LAC that Nyoma offers.
Nyoma’s forward location offers a significant tactical advantage. It reduces response time for IAF assets, improves surveillance and reconnaissance coverage across sensitive approaches, and enhances the Indian Army’s ability to rapidly reinforce frontline deployments.
The Defence Ministry has accelerated the development of aviation infrastructure along the LAC in recent years, spurred by the protracted border standoff with China. The focus includes upgrading existing airfields and Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) to support modern aircraft and high-volume operations in difficult terrain.
One of the key projects underway is the enhancement of the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) ALG, situated near the strategic Karakoram Pass. At 16,700 feet, DBO is the highest airstrip in the world and a critical lifeline for Indian deployments in the northernmost reaches of Ladakh, close to the Depsang Plains.
Officials note that improvements to DBO, Nyoma, and other forward airfields form part of a coherent strategy to ensure that India maintains rapid mobility and robust defensive capabilities in a region where Chinese infrastructure buildup continues at a rapid pace.
The activation of the Mudh-Nyoma airbase comes against the backdrop of continued deployments of Indian and Chinese troops along the LAC, despite multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks. The enhanced operational capability provided by the new airbase is expected to play a key role in sustaining India’s high-altitude deterrence posture.
With fighter jets, heavy transport aircraft, and frontline helicopters now able to operate regularly from Nyoma, India has added a significant layer of strategic depth in Ladakh — one that strengthens its ability to respond swiftly to emerging security challenges along the Himalayan frontier.
