06 November 2008

India Re-Opening Airbase Near Pakistan, China

The Indian Air Force is reopening a long-disused base in a flashpoint border region:
India reopened the 'Fuk Che' airbase in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir -- the second such airbase that was not in active use till recently for Indian Air Force (IAF) -- close to both the Chinese and Pakistani borders, media reports said.
The IAF had reopened in May the Daulat Beg Oldi Advanced Landing Grounds (ALG) close to the Line of Actual Control with China and the Line of Control with Pakistan -- the first such in four decades with the landing of an AN-32 aircraft carrying the Western Air Command chief Air Marshal P K Barbora.
The reopening of Fuk Che, close to Aksai Chin and Siachen Glacier, to operate larger military aircraft was formalized Tuesday morning with the landing of IAF's AN-32 transport aircraft, marking a shift in airbase's operational profile.


By: Brant

No comments: