Mudh-Nyoma Air Force Station

Mudh-Nyoma Air Force Station
Nyoma, Leh district, Ladakh, India Near Nyoma in India
Indian Air Force's An-32 taking off from Nyoma ALG (now Mudh-Nyoma Air Force Station) on 18 September 2009.
Site information
Type	Military Airbase
Controlled by	Indian Air Force
Open to the public	no
Location
Mudh-Nyoma AFS Location in Ladakh Show map of Ladakh Mudh-Nyoma AFS Location in India Show map of India
Coordinates	33°15′N78°14′E / 33.250°N 78.233°E / 33.250; 78.233
Site history
In use	2009–present

Mudh-Nyoma Air Force Station (formerly, Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground) is an Indian Air Force base located near Nyoma in the Leh district of Ladakh, India. The base is located at 13,700 feet (4,200 m) above sea level, near the Line of Actual Control. ^{[1] [2]}

History

The Nyoma airfield was one of the airfields originally inaugurated during 1962 India-China War. However, the Nyoma airstrip remained unused until April 2009 when it was being prepared to serve as an advanced landing ground (ALG) to support fixed-wing aircraft operations. ^[3] It entered operational service on 18 September 2009 when the IAF landed an Antonov An-32 transport aircraft there. The aircraft was flown by SC Chafekar, a then Group Captain-ranked officer, and carrying the then commanding officers of Western Air Command and Northern Command of the Army, NAK Browne and P C Bhardwarj, respectively. This was the third ALG to be opened in Ladakh in two years, including the one at Daulat Beg Oldi and Fukche. ^[4] The airbase is only 23 km (14 mi) away from the Line of Actual Control. ^{[5] [6]}

In the last week of December 2022, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) invited bids to upgrade the airfield to a full-fledged air base to support fighter aircraft and minor maintenance operations. The project budget was estimated at ₹ 214 crore (equivalent to ₹227 croreorUS$27 million in 2023). The establishment is spread across 1,235 acre land and located at an altitude of 13,700 feet (4,200 m). The base is equipped with an over 2.7 km (8,900 ft) along with allied military infrastructure. ^[7]

The project commenced in the third week of August 2023. There were three full-fledged operational air bases in Ladakh including Leh, Kargil and Thoise Air Force Station along with the two ALGs at Daulat Beg Oldi and Fukche. ^[8]

The foundation stone was laid by the Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh, in September 2023. The infrastructure project was led by a team of women officers from the BRO. ^{[9] [10]}

By October 2024, 95% of the work for Runway at the airbase is complete. The runway was ready for emergency use by all aircraft including fighter aircraft. The base would be formally commissioned in September 2025 after allied infrastructure like hangars, an air traffic control building, and hard-standing areas are completed. ^[11]

As of July 2025, the Mudh air base at Nyoma is expected to be operationalised by October that year. The 46 m (151 ft)-wide runway is fully operational, while the supporting infrastructure—such as the ATC complex, hangar, crash bay, watch towers, and accommodation facilities—is also nearly complete. ^{[12] [13]}

By 1 November 2025, the airbase had been reportedly operationalised by the Air Force. The project was undertaken under Project Himank, ^{[14] [15]} with a budget of ₹230 crore (US$27 million). ^[16] A small hume pipe culvert has been cleared for construction to facilitate movement across the Indus River. ^[17]

The Mudh-Nyoma Air Base was formerly inaugurated by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, on 12 November 2025. He landed on a C-130J aircraft and was accompanied by the commanind officer of the Western Air Command, Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra. ^{[10] [18] [19]}

Operations

The airstrip was utilised for helicopter operations between 1962 and 2009. Until 2025, the base also supported the operations of fixed-wing aircraft, including transport aircraft like the C-130J, ^[7] from its compacted runway. ^{[5] [6]}

The air base was utilised during the 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes when a helicopter fleet including heavy-lift CH-47 Chinook, medium-lift Mi-17 and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to support ground troops in forward deployment including surveillance and intelligence gathering operations. ^[8]

The full-fledged air base will be available for fighter aircraft operations from early 2026. ^[12]

References

1. "Mudh-Nyoma airbase close to China becomes operational, strengthening India's border preparedness". BusinessLine. 2025-11-13. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
2. "Edge in thin air: India's new airbase looks China in the eye - The Economic Times". m.economictimes.com. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
3. "New IAF airfield to be reopened in east Ladakh". The Economic Times. 2009-04-06. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 2025-11-14.
4. Today, Headlines (2009-09-18). "IAF plane lands at Ladakh's Nyoma airfield". India Today. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
5. "IAF activates Nyoma airfield close to China border". The Indian Express. 2009-09-18. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
6. Sharma, Vrinda (2009-09-18). "Joint effort by forces to operate in Leh-Ladakh". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2025-11-14.
7. "To counter China, Nyoma airfield in Ladakh to be full-fledged base in 2 years". The Tribune. 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
8. Peri, Dinakar (2023-08-12). "Nyoma advanced landing ground in eastern Ladakh being upgraded to handle fighter jets". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2025-11-14.
9. "Invest more in R&D for India to move with world's pace: Raksha Mantri to domestic defence manufacturers at North Tech Symposium in Jammu" (Press release). Press Information Bureau. 2023-09-12. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
10. Singh, Rahul (2025-11-12). "IAF chief lands C-130J, inaugurates Nyoma airbase in Ladakh". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
11. Despatch, Kashmir (2024-10-30). "World's Highest Fighter Airfield comes up in Ladakh". Kashmir Despatch. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
12. "East Ladakh's Nyoma airfield set to be operational by October". The Times of India. 2025-07-24. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2025-07-27.
13. "India Fighter Airbase in Ladakh: Nyoma Base Ready for October Takeoff". Deccan Herald. 2025-07-19. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
14. Linganna, Girish (2025-11-01). "Built at –40°C! How India created the world's toughest airbase at Nyoma near the China border". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
15. "World's Highest Fighter Base Strengthens Himalayan Defense, SU-30 Jets Take Flight at 13,700 ft - India's Nyoma Airbase Now Fully Operational". indianmasterminds.com. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
16. Pandit, Rajat (2025-11-14). "Ladakh airbase close to China border activated". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2025-11-14.
17. PTI (2025-11-07). "Wildlife panel clears 13 defence, paramilitary projects in Ladakh, Arunachal". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2025-11-08.
18. Patel, Shivam (13 November 2025). "India inaugurates new military airbase close to China border, source says". Reuters . Retrieved 14 November 2025.
19. "All you need to know about Ladakh's Mudh-Nyoma airbase". The Times of India. 2025-11-13. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2025-11-14.