India says landed heavy-lift military aircraft at highest altitude
The Indian Air Force said on Saturday it had successfully landed a heavy-lift transport aircraft at the highest altitude anywhere in the world in remote Ladakh bordering China. The IL-76MD, a four-engine Russian-origin turbofan military aircraft also known as Ganjraj, landed at an airfield at 4,154 metres above sea level, close to the frontier with China. “An Indian Air Force IL-76MD has scripted…
On Saturday, the Indian Air Force (IAF) announced the successful landing of a heavy-lift transport aircraft at an unprecedented altitude, marking a historic achievement for the Indian military. The Indian fighter jet, an IL-76MD also known as Ganjraj, touched down at an airfield in Nyoma, a remote location in Ladakh, India's northernmost state. The aircraft landed at an altitude of 4,154 meters above sea level, near the border with China.
IAF spokespersons expressed pride in the accomplishment, stating that the IL-76MD had scripted history with this unprecedented landing. Images shared by the IAF on social media captured the momentous event, depicting the aircraft landing and taking off from the runway amidst barren mountains in the cold desert region of Ladakh, where temperatures can plummet to minus 20 degrees Celsius.
The military airfield in Nyoma was recently built, coming online last year, as part of India's strategic push for military infrastructure in the icy region. The airfield serves as a testament to India's growing military presence in the frigid terrain along its 3,500-kilometer high-altitude border with China, following a border clash in 2020 that resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.
Despite the recent improvement in relations between India and China, deep distrust persists over territorial disputes in the region. Both nations continue to maintain military deployments along their long, high-altitude border, a reflection of the longstanding territorial disagreements.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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