Two abandoned Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China—Chushul in eastern Ladakh and Anini in far-east Arunachal Pradesh—are being revived by the Ministry of Defense (MoD).
These programs are a part of the Indian Air Force’s long-term plan to support Army and IAF operations using UAVs and helicopters, as well as to increase forward airpower capabilities close to the sensitive border areas.
Chushul ALG is located on the Ladakh plateau at an elevation of about 14,000 feet, roughly 4 km west of the LAC. Because the IAF’s AN-12 aircraft carried AMX-13 tanks to Chushul during the 1962 India-China war, it holds historical significance. Due to diplomatic concerns with China, previous attempts to resurrect the ALG were rejected.
Chushul’s runway is long enough to handle Indian Air Force transport aircraft, such as the Lockheed Martin C-130J special operations plane and the Airbus C-295.
Anini ALG is situated on a natural plateau close to the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley. In addition to having a mud-paved runway built after independence that was never utilized operationally, it served as a staging area for Allied forces during World War II.
This ALG, which has a clear runway length of roughly 1.5 km, was revived at the request of the Arunachal Pradesh government. The facility has been assessed by MoD and IAF specialists in order to prepare it for modern military requirements.
Reviving these ALGs entails setting up the necessary infrastructure to support air operations including UAV and helicopter flights as well as perhaps support airlifts of troops and supplies. Facilities will be improved over time to accommodate small stationed troops that will oversee ground operations and air traffic control.
For troops positioned close to the border, these ALGs will improve logistics and deployment speed, enabling faster movement and UAV-based monitoring.
This action is part of a larger effort by the MoD over the past 20 years to upgrade and reactivate additional ALGs in eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, including Along, Mechuka, and Ziro in Arunachal and Nyoma and Daulat Beg Oldie in Ladakh. A few of these have been transformed into operational airfields and full-fledged airbases, greatly enhancing India’s military preparedness along its northern and eastern borders.
Reviving the Chushul and Anini ALGs is a strategic infrastructure endeavor that reflects increased defense readiness and rapid response capability enhancement by ensuring better forward airpower projection, enhanced logistics, and aerial surveillance capability in India’s sensitive border areas with China.
