How India’s high-altitude Nyoma airbase strengthens defence on eastern Ladakh border with China

Nyoma Airbase strengthens border readiness

India has officially operationalised the Nyoma airbase in eastern Ladakh, marking a significant boost to its high-altitude military capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The move comes as the Indian Army conducts a large-scale exercise in Arunachal Pradesh, signalling sustained vigilance along both ends of the 3,488-km China frontier.

History of Nyoma Airbase

The Nyoma airfield, located in the Nyoma subdivision of Leh district, was originally constructed in 1962 as a mud-paved landing ground but remained largely inactive for decades. It was reactivated in 2009 when an AN-32 aircraft successfully landed, highlighting its potential for strategic use.

Following the 2020 India–China border standoff, Nyoma ALG supported operations for C-130J, AN-32, Apache, and Chinook aircraft, proving critical in rapid troop and equipment mobilisation. In 2023, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) began upgrading the facility under Project Himank, and by 2024, a 2.7-km rigid pavement runway was completed at a cost of approximately ₹218–230 crore. The airbase was fully operational in November 2025 with hangars, an air traffic control (ATC) complex, crash bays, and support infrastructure.

Geographical and geological context

Nyoma lies at an altitude of 13,710 feet in a high-altitude cold desert terrain, surrounded by rugged mountains and the Changthang plateau. The region experiences extreme temperatures, dropping to –30°C, which restricts the construction window to a few months each year.

Strategically, Nyoma is positioned near key valleys and plains, including Pangong Tso, Hanle, Chumar, Demchok, the Kailash Range, and the Skakjung plains. It is also roughly 30–35 km from the LAC, making it crucial for monitoring and rapid deployment in sensitive border areas.

Strategic importance

The Nyoma airbase enhances India’s air mobility and quick response capability along the eastern Ladakh sector. It can handle fighter jets, heavy transport aircraft, and helicopters, making it one of the highest operational airfields in the world.

Currently, it allows rapid movement of troops, weapons, and supplies to areas such as Pangong Tso, Demchok, and Depsang. By early 2026, the base will also support fighter operations, although high-altitude conditions will impose limitations on aircraft payload and fuel capacity.

This development strengthens India’s deterrence posture along the LAC and complements other airfields in the region, including Leh, Thoise, Kargil, Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), and Fukche. In Arunachal Pradesh, Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) like Pasighat, Mechuka, Walong, Tuting, Along, and Ziro have also been progressively upgraded for military purposes.

Current military context

The operationalisation of Nyoma coincides with the Indian Army’s ongoing ‘Poorvi Prachand Prahar’ exercise in Arunachal Pradesh. Thousands of soldiers from the 3 Spear Corps, alongside elements of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), are conducting high-altitude operations to validate rapid mobilisation, operational logistics, mountain warfare manoeuvres, and multi-domain integrated strike capabilities.

A senior officer noted: “There is ongoing reset in bilateral diplomatic ties. Military CBMs are also being progressively strengthened but the trust deficit on the ground remains high…With no de-escalation along LAC, troops will continue to be forward deployed for the 6th successive winter since multiple Chinese incursions into eastern Ladakh in April-May 2020.”

China has also strengthened its air capabilities along the LAC with fighters, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, drones, and new heliports, making India’s strategic upgrades essential for maintaining a credible deterrent.

The Nyoma airbase is a landmark in India’s high-altitude military infrastructure, providing enhanced mobility, rapid deployment, and surveillance capabilities along the eastern sector of the LAC. Together with upgraded ALGs and ongoing exercises, it underscores India’s focus on maintaining operational readiness and strategic advantage in the Himalayas.