Leh, July 7: Amid tensions with China, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is carrying out night time combat air patrols over the Eastern Ladakh sector, ANI reported

The Indian Air Force is carrying out intensive night operations involving its fighter aircraft including the MiG-29 and Sukhoi-30MKI along with its Apache attack helicopters and the Chinook heavy-lift helicopter at a forward airbase near China border.

Explaining the significance of night time operations, senior fighter pilot Group Captain A Rathi deployed at the forward base told ANI, “Night operations have an inherent element of surprise. Indian Air Force is fully trained and ready to undertake an entire spectrum of operations in any environment with the help of modern platforms and highly motivated personnel.”

The pilots of the Apache choppers could be seen flying with their night vision goggles which allows them to navigate through the mountains around the airbase and the dark night.

The Chinook with its high tech gadgets and navigation aids is fully ready for 24×7 operations and played a big role in transferring troops to the Line of Actual Control from rear locations.

When the MiG-29s were taking off from the forward airbase, multiple air bases in the northern sector were activated from where fighter including the Mirage-2000, Su-30MKI and Jaguars took off towards different locations along the Line of Actual Control from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.

“The motivation level of troops at the airbase is very high. The morale is very high like our motto Nabha Sparsham Deeptam (Touch the Sky with Glory),” Warrant Officer P Sharma said.

The entire base with its flurry of activities is playing a crucial role in enhancing the combat preparedness of the country along the China border.

“This base plays a very important role in undertaking operations in this area. It is cleared for all contingencies and all combat and support operations to be undertaken in this area,” a Flight Lieutenant said on importance of the forward airfield.

The officer had stated that in view of the operations along the borders with China after the clash in Galwan valley and the tensions at the border, “Air Power will play an important role in this area in both combat and support roles. We have all the resources in terms of men and equipment to meet all the challenges.”

Air activities in the Ladakh area and other places along the China border had gone up extensively soon after the Chinese started building up and went up further after the Galwan valley clash on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army men lost their lives. (ANI)