IAF vice chief visits air bases in Ladakh

nNEW DELHI: Indian Air Force vice chief Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora on Friday visited forward air bases in Ladakh to review the IAF’S operational preparedness in the sensitive sector where Indian and Chinese forces are locked in a tense border row, an official familiar with the matter said.

“Besides reviewing the operational preparedness at these bases, the vice chief interacted with air warriors of the combat units currently operating at these locations. He was briefed about the operational readiness of IAF assets deployed in the area,” the IAF spokesperson said.

Arora asked the personnel to ensure a high state of combat readiness at all times,t he said.

The vice chief also flew in the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter from the Daulat Beg Oldie advanced landing ground, near the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC). The chopper, developed by plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, is undergoing high-altitude trials in the Ladakh sector.

The IAF’S C-130J Super Hercules aircraft have undertaken sorties to the advanced landing ground in the strategic DBO sector to support the military’s forward deployments. At 16,614 feet, the DBO airstrip in north-eastern Ladakh is the world’s highest runway and is located 8 km from the LAC.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh last month asked the IAF to be prepared for any eventuality, saying the rapid deployment of aerial assets at forward locations in eastern Ladakh had “sent a strong message” to the adversary.

The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, said his force was poised to counter any aggressive action by the adversary.