In a move that signals both strategic foresight and military preparedness, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the revival of two long-abandoned advanced landing grounds (ALGs) along the sensitive India-China frontier. The sites one at Chushul in eastern Ladakh and the other at Anini in far-eastern Arunachal Pradesh are set to bolster India’s forward airpower in some of the most challenging terrains on the globe.
Both ALGs sit perilously close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the disputed Himalayan boundary that has witnessed multiple standoffs between India and China in recent years. According to defence sources, the airstrips will be upgraded to handle operations of UAVs, helicopters, and medium-lift aircraft such as the Airbus C-295 and the C-130J Super Hercules.
The Chushul strip, located just 4 km west of the LAC on a natural flat plateau at 14,000 feet, carries a special place in military history. It was last operational during the 1962 India-China war when the IAF’s Soviet-origin AN-12s dramatically airlifted AMX-13 light tanks from Chandigarh to Chushul. Defence ministry archives note that these tanks, alongside 25-pounder guns, played a decisive role in holding Ladakh’s defences. Earlier revival attempts were stalled due to Chinese sensitivities, but the current geopolitical climate has clearly pushed New Delhi to act.
The second site, Anini in Arunachal’s Dibang Valley, also carries historical weight. During World War II, the area served as a staging point for Allied supplies ferried across the infamous “Hump” route of the eastern Himalayas into China. Post-Independence, a mud runway was laid out but never pressed into service. Now, with Arunachal’s government pressing for operationalisation, the MoD is keen to transform the 1.5-km strip into a functional forward asset.
An ALG is essentially a military-grade mud or semi-paved strip capable of handling smaller aircraft. Revival involves more than just laying tarmac it requires stationing personnel, creating infrastructure for stay, and ensuring logistical support. Over time, these sites can evolve into critical forward bases.
This is not the first such initiative. Over the past two decades, the MoD has revived or upgraded several ALGs, including Daulat Beg Oldie and Nyoma in Ladakh, and seven others in Arunachal Pradesh, some of which now serve both military and civilian traffic. Nyoma, in fact, is being developed into a full-fledged airbase, set to become operational next month.
The revival of Chushul and Anini underscores India’s resolve to strengthen its air mobility along its most vulnerable borders sending a clear signal that the country intends to stay prepared in the face of China’s assertive posturing.
