ID :
22997
Tue, 10/07/2008 - 09:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/22997
The shortlink copeid
IAF looking to open more ALGs around Siachen glacier
New Delhi, Oct 6 (PTI) With India opening the forbidding Siachen Glacier for civilian trek last year, the Indian Air Force (I.A.F.) is planning to open more Advanced Landing Grounds (A.L.G.s) for aircraft operations, aimed at promoting tourism in high-altitude areas of Ladakh.
"The Defence Ministry (M.O.D.) has directed us to look
for more Advanced Landing Grounds (A.L.G.s) in Ladakh to
increase aircraft operations that will help promote tourism
and for other purposes," Western Air Commander Air Marshal P K
Barbora said Monday, after witnessing the I.A.F.'s dress
rehearsal for the 76th Air Force Day parade at Hindan near
here.
"With fixed wing aircraft landing at these A.L.G.s, we
would be able to send more relief material in less time for
humanitarian support and also for disaster management,
whenever it is required," Barbora said, to a question about
the opening of A.L.G.s in high-altitude areas.
The I.A.F. had already opened the Daulat Beg Oldi
(D.B.O.) A.L.G. around May this year, closer to the
Chinese-held Aksai Chin areas of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir,
with the first An-32 landing in three decades.
The Siachen glacier trekking camp was launched this
October 1 for the second year in a row. Last year, the
government had opened up the 72-km-long Glacier for civilian
adventure tourism, despite Pakistani protests.
By increasing civilian and tourist movement in the
region, India wants to strengthen its claim on the territory
along the 110-km-long Actual Ground Position Line (A.G.P.L.)
with Pakistan.
Reopening of DBO A.L.G.s is also seen as a step to create
more access points for the Indian defence forces to Siachen
and surrounding areas in Jammu and Kashmir, along the borders
with India's two traditional rivals, Pakistan and China.
Barbora said apart from DBO A.L.G., I.A.F. was also
looking to operationalise existing as well as new A.L.G.s in
the region.
"Fuck Che is one such A.L.G., which we are trying to
reopen. Chushul is another. We are also looking for new
A.L.G.s," Barbora said.
On the deployment of Su-30 air superiority fighter
aircraft at Leh, Barbora said I.A.F. wanted to operate its
fighter aircraft from all kinds of terrain in the country.
"We have a variety of terrain in India that includes
land, mountain and seas. It is always better that all our
pilots and platforms are able to operate from all these
terrains, so that when we have to redeploy forces for any
contingency, they are prepared," he said.
Earlier during the Air Force Day parade dress rehearsal,
the I.A.F. put up its major strike aircraft along with its
transport and helicopter fleet on static and aerial display.
I.A.F.'s popular, Suryakiran 'Kiran MkII' aircraft and Sarang
'Dhruv' helicopter aerobatic display teams also performed at
the parade rehearsal. PTI AJD
"The Defence Ministry (M.O.D.) has directed us to look
for more Advanced Landing Grounds (A.L.G.s) in Ladakh to
increase aircraft operations that will help promote tourism
and for other purposes," Western Air Commander Air Marshal P K
Barbora said Monday, after witnessing the I.A.F.'s dress
rehearsal for the 76th Air Force Day parade at Hindan near
here.
"With fixed wing aircraft landing at these A.L.G.s, we
would be able to send more relief material in less time for
humanitarian support and also for disaster management,
whenever it is required," Barbora said, to a question about
the opening of A.L.G.s in high-altitude areas.
The I.A.F. had already opened the Daulat Beg Oldi
(D.B.O.) A.L.G. around May this year, closer to the
Chinese-held Aksai Chin areas of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir,
with the first An-32 landing in three decades.
The Siachen glacier trekking camp was launched this
October 1 for the second year in a row. Last year, the
government had opened up the 72-km-long Glacier for civilian
adventure tourism, despite Pakistani protests.
By increasing civilian and tourist movement in the
region, India wants to strengthen its claim on the territory
along the 110-km-long Actual Ground Position Line (A.G.P.L.)
with Pakistan.
Reopening of DBO A.L.G.s is also seen as a step to create
more access points for the Indian defence forces to Siachen
and surrounding areas in Jammu and Kashmir, along the borders
with India's two traditional rivals, Pakistan and China.
Barbora said apart from DBO A.L.G., I.A.F. was also
looking to operationalise existing as well as new A.L.G.s in
the region.
"Fuck Che is one such A.L.G., which we are trying to
reopen. Chushul is another. We are also looking for new
A.L.G.s," Barbora said.
On the deployment of Su-30 air superiority fighter
aircraft at Leh, Barbora said I.A.F. wanted to operate its
fighter aircraft from all kinds of terrain in the country.
"We have a variety of terrain in India that includes
land, mountain and seas. It is always better that all our
pilots and platforms are able to operate from all these
terrains, so that when we have to redeploy forces for any
contingency, they are prepared," he said.
Earlier during the Air Force Day parade dress rehearsal,
the I.A.F. put up its major strike aircraft along with its
transport and helicopter fleet on static and aerial display.
I.A.F.'s popular, Suryakiran 'Kiran MkII' aircraft and Sarang
'Dhruv' helicopter aerobatic display teams also performed at
the parade rehearsal. PTI AJD
