The Ministry of Defence is reactivating two previously defunct advanced landing grounds (ALGs) along the border with China, one located at Chushul in eastern Ladakh and the other at Anini in the far-eastern region of Arunachal Pradesh.
Both advanced landing grounds are strategically located near the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the disputed boundary between India and China. According to sources, under the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) “future roadmap,” these ALGs are being developed for joint use by the IAF and the Army, enabling operations involving UAVs and helicopters. The current airstrip lengths are suitable for landing aircraft like the IAF’s Airbus C-295 and the C-130J special operations transport.
Chushul, situated just 4 km west of the LAC at an altitude of 14,000 feet on the Ladakh plateau, is a naturally flat area. It was last operational during the 1962 India-China war, when the IAF’s Soviet-origin AN-12 aircraft flew in a detachment of AMX-13 light tanks from Chandigarh to Chushul.
A book titled “History of the Conflict with China–1962”, released for restricted circulation by the Ministry of Defence in March 1993, notes: “The AN-12 aircraft airlifted a troop of AMX-13 tanks to Chushul on October 25… tanks and 25-pounder guns may well have saved the day for Ladakh.”
In the past, proposals to revive the Chushul ALG were not approved, largely due to concerns over China’s sensitivities regarding the area.
The second advanced landing ground is located at Anini in the Dibang Valley of far-eastern Arunachal Pradesh. Situated on a natural plateau, Anini once served as a staging point for supply routes from British-held India to China during World War II, when both nations were on the same side.
After Independence, the Indian Air Force had drawn up plans and even laid a mud-paved runway at the site, though it was never put to use. During the war, Allied forces from the UK and the US flew critical supplies over the eastern Himalayas, a route famously known as “The Hump” due to the high-altitude terrain.
The Arunachal Pradesh government later requested the Ministry of Defence to revive the Anini ALG, which has a clear runway stretch of 1.5 km. A team led by the IAF visited and inspected the site.
In military terms, an ALG refers to a mud-paved airstrip located near the frontlines. Reviving one typically involves deploying a small unit capable of guiding aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs. Eventually, supporting infrastructure would be developed to accommodate a small operations crew on site.
Over the past two decades, the Ministry of Defence has revived several advanced landing grounds in eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. In Ladakh, two key ALGs, Daulat Beg Oldie and Nyoma, have been brought back into operation. Nyoma is currently being upgraded into a full-fledged airbase, expected to become operational next month.
In Arunachal Pradesh, seven ALGs have been developed into fully functional runways. These are located at Along, Mechuka, Pasighat, Tuting, Vijayanagar, Walong, and Ziro. These airstrips are regularly used by military aircraft for transporting supplies and also serve the needs of the local civilian population.
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