China is building an airport for combat aircraft operations near the eastern Ladakh region in Shake, Xinjiang province. It aims to remove obstacles in its fighter aircraft operations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India.
“The base is coming between the existing airbases of Kashgar and Hogan which have been conducting combat operations on Indian borders for a long time. This new base for combat operations will fill the gap for the Chinese Air Force in the region,” government sources said. told news agency ANI.
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There is already an airbase in the Shakche region which is being renovated for combat aircraft operations. As per the ANI report, the base for fighter aircraft operations will be completed soon, and the construction on it has accelerated.
The operation of Shakche airport will bridge the 400 km distance between existing air stations in China close to the LAC for the operation of fighter aircraft.
Indian officials are also keeping a close watch on an airfield near the Uttarakhand-China border in Barahoti, where the Chinese have moved in a large number of unmanned aerial vehicles that are regularly flying over the area.
In terms of strike capability, the Chinese Air Force has generally lagged behind in this area of the LAC compared to India, an advantage on the Chinese side due to its various airfields along the LAC that are relatively close together.
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However, with the deployment of S-400 air defense systems procured from Russia, it has strengthened its air defense in the region.
The Indian side has also deployed several fighter aircraft in Leh and other border airports in Ladakh, capable of fighting both China and Pakistan at the same time.
The deployment and operation of Rafale fighter jets at Ambala and Hashimara airbases have further boosted India’s preparedness against China.
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