In an effort to enhance its operational capabilities in forward areas in tough mountain terrain, a C-130 J Super Hercules transport aircraft of IAF for the first time carried out a night landing at the high-altitude Kargil advanced landing ground near the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.

The night landing of the tactical lift aircraft with the elite Garud commandos on board at the Kargil airstrip at 15,000 feet demonstrated the IAF’s operational capabilities in the strategically crucial sector, sources said here on Sunday. The night landing was carried out recently. While IAF aircraft have operated from the advanced landing ground before, it was the first time that a transport plane made a night landing.

“In a first, an IAF C-130 J aircraft recently carried out a night landing at the Kargil airstrip. Employing terrain masking enroute, the exercise also dovetailed a training mission of the Garuds,” the IAF said on ‘X’.

The defence ministry has also been focusing on enhancing infrastructure at almost all airfields along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)facing China, including the Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) as per operational requirements.

It is especially boosting infrastructure at the Daulat Beg Oldi Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) as well as the Nyoma airstrip.

The Daulat Beg Oldi ALG is located close to the LAC at an altitude of 16,700 feet and is known as the highest airfield in the world.

Temperatures in Daulat Beg Oldi drop up to minus 40 degrees Celsius during harsh winter months.  The Nyoma airfield is located at a height of around 13,000 feet.