INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: Ahead of another round of top-level military talks with China on Monday, the Indian defence establishment contends there are
forces, backed by reserves in the rear, are well-poised to tackle any contingency along the entire 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC), be
it eastern Ladakh or Arunachal Pradesh
While there is the ongoing diplomatic-military push through talks for China to agree to troop disengagement at Depsang and Demchok in
China, of course, has a major advantage over India in terms of military force-levels, technological prowess and border infrastructure.The
Indian Army, on its part, has deployed a whole host of artillery weapons along the LAC, which range from the old 155mm Bofors and new M-777
high-volume firepower.Similarly, apart from combat air patrols by Sukhoi-30MKI, Rafale and MiG-29 fighters, the IAF has majorly strengthened
its air defence network with various radars and surface-to-air guided weapons with ranges extending up to almost 100-km in forward locations
in eastern Ladakh, another source said.In addition to ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) missions flown by fighters, the
advanced satellite communication-enabled Israeli Heron Mark-II drones at a forward air base in the northern sector to boost real-time
These all-weather medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drones, which can stay airborne for over 35 hours at a stretch, will also be
eastern Ladakh in April-May 2020, which were followed by the violent Galwan clashes on June 15, the defence establishment swung into action
to address the challenge in the forbidding high-altitude terrain.The IAF, for instance, airlifted over 68,000 soldiers, 90 tanks, 330 BMP
infantry combat vehicles, scores of artillery guns and other weapon systems with C-17 Globemaster-III, 130J Super Hercules and other
also worked hard to somewhat reduce the huge border infrastructure differential with China
These range from construction of troop habitats, roads, tunnels and bridges to helipads, airfields and fuel storage facilities.The runway at
the high-altitude Nyoma advance landing ground, which is less than 50-km from the LAC in eastern Ladakh, for instance, is now being extended
and strengthened to ensure its can handle fighter jets like Sukhoi-30MKIs and MiG-29s
The entire airfield upgrade should be completed by mid-2025, as was reported by TOI in February.WatchIndia-China corps commander-level
talks: India to press for troop disengagement in Depsang and Demchok
