The Indian Air Force will convert the advanced landing ground (ALG) at Ladakh into a fully fledged air base for fixed-wing transport aircraft.

The ALG presently operates helicopters from Nyoma, which is the third such landing ground in the Ladakh region.

The Nyoma airstrip is 23km from the line of actual control (LAC) with China, and its conversion will allow basing and operation of all AN-32 aircraft in the region.

The Nyoma air base, once complete, will be the first operational transport airbase of the IAF in eastern Ladakh.

The air force already has another airbase in Leh, which can operate aircraft such as fighters, heavy-lift and medium-lift transport and rotary-wing aircraft, while another airstrip is being planned for the future.