India has significantly strengthened its military posture along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China by operationalising the upgraded Nyoma airbase in eastern Ladakh. Simultaneously, a large-scale integrated Army exercise is underway in Arunachal Pradesh, reflecting India’s continued high readiness along both ends of the frontier amid the ongoing border standoff.
Located about 35 km from the LAC at an altitude of 13,710 feet, the Nyoma airbase serves as a forward hub for the Indian Air Force, positioned close to key friction points such as Pangong Tso, Demchok, and Depsang. The upgraded facility enables rapid induction of troops, weapons, and logistics into high-altitude sectors, substantially reducing response time during emergencies. Together with Leh, Kargil, Thoise, and Daulat Beg Oldie, Nyoma forms a dense and strategic network of advanced air assets in Ladakh.
The airbase has been modernized at a cost of approximately ₹230 crore. The project includes converting the earlier airstrip into a 2.7 km rigid pavement runway, constructing a new air traffic control complex, hangars, crash bays, and upgraded accommodations. The revamped Mudh airfield at Nyoma can now handle heavy-lift transport aircraft such as the C-130J Super Hercules, which the IAF Chief flew during the inauguration. Fighter jet operations are expected to commence by early 2026, though aircraft performance will continue to be influenced by the region’s extreme altitude and thin air.
Meanwhile, China has been steadily upgrading its own air infrastructure along the LAC. It has deployed additional J-20 stealth fighters, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, and drones at airbases including Hotan, Kashgar, Gargunsa, Shigatse, Bangda, Nyingchi, and Hoping. Furthermore, newly constructed heliports and logistics hubs across the Tibetan Plateau have improved China’s air mobility and operational depth. This ongoing build-up continues to exacerbate the trust deficit and hinder meaningful de-escalation since the 2020 border clashes.
In the eastern sector, India’s 3 Corps has launched a major military exercise titled ‘Poorvi Prachand Prahar’ in Arunachal Pradesh. Thousands of troops, supported by the Indian Air Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and other units, are participating in high-altitude zones such as Mechuka. The exercise focuses on rapid mobilisation, airlift capabilities, mountain warfare manoeuvres, and multi-domain operations. These drills validate India’s readiness to deploy the “right force at the right place at the right time.”
Simultaneously, advanced landing grounds (ALGs) across the region — including Pasighat, Mechuka, Walong, Tuting, Along, and Ziro — are being upgraded to improve logistics and operational reach. Enhanced military utilisation of civil ALGs in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh further reinforces India’s layered defence posture along the Himalayan frontier.
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