Nyoma airfield nears completion: India’s answer to China amid high-altitude powerplay

The airfield, one of the highest in the world at 13,710 feet, is being built at an estimated Rs 230 crore.

In a big step towards strengthening its presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India is set to complete the crucial Mudh airfield project in the high-altitude Nyoma area in eastern Ladakh by October, according to a report in The Times of India.

The airfield, one of the highest in the world at 13,710 feet, is being built at an estimated Rs 230 crore. It involves an upgrade of the original airstrip, transforming it into a 2.7-kilometre rigid runway with a width of 46 metres. It is expected to allow operations by all kinds of fixed-wing aircraft such as heavy-lift transport planes and fighter jets from both directions.

A defence official told TOI that the runway is fully ready while the allied infrastructure, including the ATC complex, hangar, crash bay, watch towers, accommodation and the likes, is also more or less complete.

“Nyoma will prove crucial as a forward staging ground for troops deployed in the region and transporting supplies quickly to them. The airfield will also be available for fighter operations by early 2026, though high altitude will be a limiting factor, much like what Chinese air force faces across LAC," he said.

Also, 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.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday said India and China reviewed the overall situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh and prepared the ground for the next edition of the Special Representatives' dialogue on the boundary question. India also resumed tourist visa facilities for Chinese nationals for the first time since the 2020 Galwan clashes that led to a long diplomatic standoff between the two countries.

TOI reported that Nyoma was originally reactivated in 2009 with the landing of an AN-32 transport aircraft. The upgrade project began in April-May 2020.

Strategic importance of Nyoma airfield project

Beijing has been rapidly modernising its own high-altitude air bases along the LAC over the last five years. Key Chinese airfields such as Hotan, Kashgar, Shigatse, Nyingchi, and Hoping now host advanced aircraft including J-20 stealth fighters, bombers, drones, and surveillance planes.

Amid these developments, Nyoma is expected to enhance rapid troop deployment and improve logistics support in high-altitude terrain, especially in times of crisis.

Nyoma will also 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).

Also, Nyoma’s proximity to the Demchok sector adds to its strategic value. The area, known as the “Demchok funnel,” is one of the few stretches along the LAC in Ladakh suitable for mechanised warfare.