majalah militer

April 6, 2009 -- After successfully reopening Daulat Beg Oldi and Fuk Che airfields in Ladakh last year, India is now working to operationalise the Neoma Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) this year for the Indian Air Force (IAF), close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

Though these airfields are being revived to support troop movement in times of need, India would prefer these to be ready for future tourism requirements. In due course, the airfield at Neoma will also be converted into a full fledged runway to cater to future tourist inflow.

"This new ALG is coming up at Neoma in east Ladakh, which will, in all probability, be converted into a full fledged runway, like any other runway to cater for the future tourism requirements also in the region," IAF's Western Air Command Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Marshal P K Barbora told reporters here today.

Neoma is not as close to the LAC as Daulat Beg Oldi or Fuk Che are, but it will be close enough to support military operations too. The airfields were operated by the Indian armed forces during the 1962 Sino-Indian war, but closed a few years later.

"Not as close (to China) as DBO, Chushul or Fuk Che. But it is in a pretty comfortable place," Barbora said. (India-Defence)