IAF's Rs 230 cr Nyoma airfield in Ladakh to run from Oct; why is it crucial for India's LAC strategy against China?
Line of Actual Control
(LAC) with China, the
Border Roads Organisation
(BRO) is nearing completion of the strategically vital
Mudh airfield
in the
Nyoma region
of eastern Ladakh, according to a TOI report.
Scheduled for completion by October, the airfield—one of the highest in the world at 13,710 feet—will significantly boost the
Indian Air Force
's (IAF) reach and readiness in the sensitive region.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Please select course:
Select a Course Category
Finance
Healthcare
Design Thinking
Public Policy
CXO
Technology
others
Operations Management
Leadership
Data Analytics
Data Science
Digital Marketing
Product Management
PGDM
healthcare
Project Management
MCA
Data Science
Management
Degree
Others
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
9 Months
IIM Calcutta
SEPO - IIMC CFO India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
7 Months
S P Jain Institute of Management and Research
CERT-SPJIMR Fintech & Blockchain India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
The Rs 230 crore infrastructure project involves a comprehensive upgrade of the original airstrip, transforming it into a 2.7-kilometre rigid runway with a width of 46 metres.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
3BHK Transformation Possible for ₹4.5 Lakh?
HomeLane
Get Quote
Undo
Read Also |
MiG-21's final flight may put private defence firms on frontline amid HAL's drag
Along with the runway, the project includes a dispersal area, turning pads, an Air Traffic Control (ATC) complex, aircraft hangars, watchtowers, a crash bay, and accommodation facilities for personnel.
Live Events
'The main runway is fully operational, and the supporting infrastructure is nearly finished,' an official source told TOI.
Strategic importance near China border
Situated just 35 kilometres from the LAC, Nyoma is poised to become a crucial forward operating base for Indian troops stationed in the region.
The report noted that the project will enhance rapid troop deployment and improve logistics support in high-altitude terrain, especially in times of crisis.
The upgraded airfield will eventually support operations of all fixed-wing aircraft, including heavy-lift transport planes and fighter jets, though high altitude conditions will continue to impose some limitations—similar to those faced by the Chinese Air Force across the LAC.
Read Also |
While Nyoma is expected to be fully available for fighter operations by early 2026, the immediate benefits will be seen in transport and logistics operations.
The airfield's strategic value has grown significantly since tensions escalated in eastern Ladakh in 2020, when Chinese troops made multiple incursions into Indian territory, triggering a prolonged military standoff.
A regional race for altitude readiness
China has been rapidly modernising its own
high-altitude airbases
along the LAC over the last five years.
Through a mix of runway extensions, hardened shelters, ammunition and fuel storage upgrades, and the construction of new heliports, it has enhanced its ability to sustain combat aircraft in thin-air environments.
Key Chinese airfields like Hotan, Kashgar, Shigatse, Nyingchi, and Hoping now host advanced aircraft including J-20 stealth fighters, bombers, drones, and surveillance planes.
India, in response, has accelerated efforts to expand its air presence in the region. Nyoma will become the fifth key air base for the IAF in Ladakh, complementing existing facilities at Leh, Kargil, Thoise, and the Daulat Beg Oldie advanced landing ground (ALG).
TOI further reported that Nyoma was originally reactivated in 2009 with the landing of an AN-32 transport aircraft, and has since remained an important node in IAF's high-altitude network.
Parallel infrastructure upgrades are underway at other ALGs, including Fukche and DBO in Ladakh, as well as airfields in Arunachal Pradesh such as Mechuka, Pasighat, Tuting, Walong, and Ziro.
According to the report, even civilian airstrips in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are now increasingly being adapted for dual-use military operations.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
22 minutes ago
- Mint
‘Trump mocking, insulting India; he has slapped us': How Opposition reacted to 25% tariff
Just after the United States imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian products, the Opposition slammed Donald Trump's decision and said he has insulted India. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress have reacted to the US decision to charge 25 per cent tariff. AAP MP Sanjay Singh said Donald Trump had been mocking India for far too long, suggesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'should oppose' and formulate a strategy for India to respond to the 25 per cent tariffs. 'Donald Trump is mocking and insulting India every day. He invites (Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff) Asim Munir and (ISI Director-General) Asim Malik for lunch. Trump even said that he loves Pakistan. I think, the Prime Minister should strongly oppose this move and formulate a strong strategy for India,' he said. Congress MP Mallu Ravi said, 'In our country, we are afraid of taking the name of the US President and agreeing to whatever they (US) say. That's why he (Trump) has imposed a 25 per cent tax on our imports and exports, and has even threatened to impose a penalty. This is not acceptable to India.' 'The government considers Trump a friend, but he has actually slapped us; Indian businessmen will suffer due to this. We will raise all issues in Parliament,' he said. Meanwhile, BJP MP Ashok Chavan said the Commerce Minister was regularly in touch with the US to form a trade deal. 'I dont think President Trump's decision comes after a consensus or a mutual discussion. Our Minister of Commerce was in regular touch with the US administration... Any scope of appeal or discussion must be duly addressed so that India doesn't face any losses,' he said.
Economic Times
22 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Green steel demand to reach 4.49 MnT in 2030 driven by construction, infra sectors: EY-Parthenon
From a negligible level at present, the demand for green steel in the country is expected to reach 4.49 MnT by 2030, driven by sectors like construction, infrastructure and automobiles, Ernst & Young (EY)-Parthenon said in a report. Five years from now, 2030 is seen as an important year for Indian steel as the government aims to achieve ambitious target of 300 million tonnes (MnT) annual steel making capacity under its National Steel Policy 2017. Although demand for green steel in India is currently negligible, it is expected to rise significantly over the coming decades, said the report titled 'Unlocking Green Steel Demand: An assessment of India's automotive, infrastructure and construction sectors.' Steel produced through low carbon emitting process is referred as green steel. The report has been prepared in collaboration with WWF-India & CII-Green Business Centre (GBC). "By FY 2029-30, the demand for green steel is projected to reach 4.49 MnT, driven primarily by the construction sector at 2.52 MnT, followed by infrastructure at 1.5 MnT, and automobiles at 0.48 MnT," the Ernst & Young (EY)-Parthenon report said. This early uptick will be fuelled by growing urbanisation and a shift towards sustainable building practices, it said. The demand is set to reach 24.89 MnT by FY35, and is expected to more than double to 73.44 MnT by FY40, largely due to the green transition in infrastructure and automotive manufacturing. By FY50, green steel demand is projected to peak at 179.17 MnT, with construction accounting for more than half, and infrastructure and automobiles continuing to contribute significantly. Meeting this demand will require widespread adoption of green hydrogen-based DRI (directly reduced iron) technology, along with sustainable production methods such as electric arc furnaces and molten oxide electrolysis. The transition towards green steel is driven by a notable price premium due to its higher production costs and the impact of carbon pricing on traditional fossil-based steelmaking. Currently, the premium on green steel produced through H₂2 DRI (hydrogen-based Direct Reduced Iron) technology stands at USD 210 per tonne, translating to a 3.7 per cent increase in construction project costs, 5.2 per cent in infrastructure projects, and 4.1 per cent in automotive manufacturing. However, as green hydrogen costs decline and technology scales up, the premium is projected to drop significantly. By 2030, the green steel premium will fall to USD 7 per tonne, reducing cost impacts across sectors to below 1 per cent by 2035-2040. In contrast, the continued use of carbon-intensive BF-BOF steel will lead to rising costs due to escalating carbon taxes, the report said.
Economic Times
22 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Vahan bags undisclosed amount from LemmaTree
ETtech Madhav Krishna, founder, CEO, Vahan Vahan, a recruitment platform for blue-collar workers, has secured an undisclosed amount from Temasek-founded investment firm LemmaTree. LemmaTree is an investment firm—set up by a team within Singapore's sovereign fund Temasek—focussed on decentralised supply chain technology and worker-centric to the company, the funds will be used for strengthening the company's proprietary technology, with a focus on building advanced AI features designed to support large-scale, multilingual recruitment processes. 'The recruitment industry in India is undergoing a revolution, but for that growth to be sustainable and equitable, workers need both access and advancement. The focus now is on deepening personalisation, scaling across new industries, and ensuring that every interaction on our platform moves a worker closer to long-term economic mobility,' said Madhav Krishna, founder and chief executive, Vahan. According to the company, it has also acquired the digital learning and upskilling platform of job matching platform GoodWorker, which was backed by LemmaTree. offers mobile-first, vernacular content specifically designed for gig and frontline workers in sectors such as logistics, manufacturing, and move is intended to help Vahan incorporate modular skill development into the job search process, allowing workers to improve their employability, qualify for higher-paying jobs, and build sustainable career in 2016, Vahan is a technology-driven platform that helps blue-collar workers find jobs and employers the right candidate. To date, the company has placed more than one million workers across over 920 cities. It currently facilitates around 40,000 job placements per month. Vahan's clients include major gig-economy companies such as Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon, Rapido, and Uber. It last raised $10 million in September last year in a funding round led by existing investor Khosla platform plans to extend its language support to eight more Indian languages, enhancing its reach among job seekers in tier II and III cities. Vahan also plans to tap into new high-growth sectors and expand its presence across India as well as international markets like Southeast Asia and the MENA on the investment, Glenn Gore, chief executive, LemmaTree, said, 'Vahan's innovative platform and team are unlocking new opportunities for millions, driving both economic empowerment and operational efficiency.' Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Regulators promote exchanges; can they stifle one? Watch IEX Jane St: How an options trader smelt a rat when others raised a toast TCS job cuts may not stop at 12,000; its bench policy threatens more From near bankruptcy to blockbuster drug: How Khorakiwala turned around Wockhardt Stock Radar: SBI Life rebounds after testing 50-DEMA; could hit fresh record highs above Rs 2,000 – check target & stop loss These 10 banking stocks can give more than 25% returns in 1 year, according to analysts Two Trades for Today: A metals stock for an over 6% gain, a large-cap chemicals maker for about 7% upmove F&O Radar| Deploy Broken Wing in LIC Housing Finance to benefit from bearish outlook
