IAF reopens Advanced Landing Ground in Arunachal

NEW DELHI: First opened to operations by the Indian Air Force in 1962 and having faced several problems thereafter, the strategically vital Vijaynagar airstrip, located in India’s eastern most tip in Arunachal Pradesh, reopened completely on Wednesday when an AN-32 transport aircraft landed on its runway.
The Vijayanagar Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) was operational until 2016, but thereafter was declared unfit for fixed wing aircraft such as transport planes. The ALG’s runway was damaged. Only military helicopters could land there. Repairing the runway was difficult because there was no road connectivity to the area, preventing supplies from reaching on time. Later, the Indian Air Force (IAF) with the local authorities ‘resurfaced’ the runway, which now allows fixed wing aircraft to land. With the ALG having become fully functional, C-130J and C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft can land there.

The ALG is important for ensuring quick mobilisation of troops and sending supplies to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The IAF had first commenced its operations in Vijaynagar with the Dakota and Otter aircraft in 1962. This was the year when the India-China war took place.

The ALG will also assist in better management of India’s border with Myanmar. This could also lead to facilitating more joint operations between the armies of India and Myanmar for flushing out insurgents hiding in Myanmar, close to the Indian border. Officials added that the airstrip will also help in joint operations between the army and the IAF.

“The ALG will assist in effective management of our borders with Myanmar and facilitate the launch of joint operations by Indian Army and Air Force for the defence of the Vijaynagar salient,” a defence ministry statement reads.

The head of IAF’s Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal RD Mathur, and the Eastern Army Commander, Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan, jointly inaugurated the resurfaced runway at the ALG. “This re-established military transport aircraft connectivity at this eastern most hamlet of India,” the statement said.

“Repair of the runway at Vijaynagar, which was coordinated by Air Force Station Jorhat, was a challenging task because, there being no road connectivity, all the load had to be airlifted by helicopters,” according to the ministry.

Other ALGs - Aalo, Mechuka, Pasighat, Tawang, Tuting, Walong and Ziro - located in Arunachal Pradesh have also been renovated, officials said. These too will provide the necessary transport capabilities to troops deployed along the LAC.

Officials added that with large transport aircraft coming to the Vijaynagar airfield will be a catalyst for the development of the area and facilitate the movement of locals. Vijaynagar is surrounded on three sides by Myanmar. The nearest town, Miao, is 157 km away and takes about six-days walk to reach. As there is no road connectivity to the area, people are dependent on military helicopters for essential services. However, these helicopters, including civil, which fly from Dibrugarh and Miao to Vijaynagar are irregular and have limited haulage capacity.