With the successful first landing of C-17 transport plane at Mechuka advanced landing ground(AlG) in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday, the IAF has enhanced its strategic reach. The landing ground is just 30 km from the line of Actual Control(lAC) with China and the landing of C-17 will ensure year round logistical support to the Army deployed on the eastern front in that sector.
The Mechuka AlG in Yargyap River valley of West Siang district of Arunachal was upgraded recently. The road connectivity to the nearest air/ rail head at Dibrugarh, about 500 km away, is hampered frequently by landslides; stretching the travel time to two days.
located at a height of 6,200 feet, the Mechuka base has a 4,200 feet long runway and C-17's successful landing displayed its capability to take off and land and short runways. Conventional military cargo aircraft operate from 9,000 ft long runways even at sea level airfields, officials said.
The trial landing by C-17 aircraft validated its short field landing performance even at high altitude and demonstrated IAF capability to reach out to this remote AlG. The aircraft used much lesser then the full runway length to stop. It is the biggest transport aircraft operated by the IAF and carry more than 70 tons of material besides more than 300 people.
Explaining the significance of the C-17's trial landing, they said this is a quantum jump from the existing capability of An-32 and C-130J aircraft. Such airlift capability facilitates critical requirement of transfer of men and material in this rugged terrain of several adjacent river valleys, interspersed by high mountain ranges that inhibit road connectivity. In the event of a disaster in the region, C-17 operations to the remote AlG can enhance the speed and quantum of national relief effort.
The IAF is now upgrading at least five more AlGs in the sensitive state bordering China and one of its bases Passighat recently saw successful landing and take off by the frontline SU-30 jets. The other bases now getting renovated are Along, Walong and Ziro.
China has vastly superior infrastructure in the Tibetan plateau facing Arunachal Pradesh with all weather roads right up to the lAC, more than 10,000 km of rail network connecting Tibet with mainland and at least seven airfields.
On the other hand, India has poor road connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh with troops marching for three to four days from the nearest road head to reach their posts on the lAC. In this backdrop, the IAF provides the crucial logistical support and the five AlGs will plug the gap to a large extent in the strategically important State.