India has no first attack policy, no nuclear first use doctrine, surrounded by ocean and Himalayas, yet we have faced hostilities right from independence, be it 1947 Kashmir Pakistan army backed attack on Kashmir, 1965 war, 1971 attack, 1999 Kargil war, almost four decades of razor cut bleeding by Pakistan backed terrorism and more recent Ladakh and North East hostilities from China. For a nation getting things right is literally a matter of life or death. Modern day military doctrine is all about power projection – engage the enemy far away from your own soil, a policy never to fight a defensive war in our own territory. In essence, to become a proactive force, not a reactionary one, fighting wars abroad to avoid conflicts in the homeland. In simple words, “In the absence of orders… Attack!”. All said and done this is not an easy task as it requires real time quick mobilisation of troops and war equipment and here comes the role of Advanced Landing Ground(ALG). India has rightly started focusing on this aspect with options for developing airfields in Eastern Ladakh including Daulat Beg Oldi, Fukche and Nyoma . Nyoma ALG, less than 50 kms from LAC with China, being the first one to be developed. Nyoma has been used for the transportation of men and material during the ongoing stand-off with China with operations of Chinook heavy-lift choppers, C-130J special operations, Apache attack helicopters and the Garud Special Forces operations from Mi-17 helicopters and is to be upgraded for fighter aircraft operations now. BRO has been assigned to develop airport and other military infrastructure and as such operating fighter aircraft from this area would strengthen the Air Force’s ability to tackle any misadventures by the adversary at lightning speed. Air Force has also deployed the Russian Igla man-portable air defence missiles to tackle any aerial incursion and regular deployment of fighter aircraft including the Rafale and MiG-29s to carry out operations in Ladakh.
Last few years, under dynamic leadership of PM Modi, has seen quantum leap in self reliance of military requirements, be it Light Combat Aircraft Tejas or the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter Prachand , nuclear capable missiles or road and airport infra. To make skies and borders impregnable our Government is leaving no stone unturned and Nyoma ALG is a big proactive step in that direction.
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