Guwahati: As part of the ongoing Air Force Gaganshakti – 2018 exercise, fighters, helicopters and transport assets were deployed at the military’s Advanced Landing Grounds (ALG).
Advanced Landing Grounds are short prepared, or unprepared airstrips close to the borders in valleys, where there is limited rail and road connectivity due to challenging terrain.
Strategically located Advanced Landing Grounds are an opportunity for India’s military to quickly mobilize troops and equipment close to the country’s Northern and North Eastern borders.
A Tezpur-based Defence PRO said a man Advanced Landing Grounds are now in operation. They are used to conduct Inter Valley Troop Transfers, Special Heliborne Operations, Air Landed operations and Special Operations by SFs, close to the simulated objective areas.
IAF military helicopters taking off.
A spokesman said that Russian-made Sukhoi SU-30 fighter aircraft have been operating from most of the Advanced Landing Grounds in the North East sector.
A complete range of support services are in operation at these Advanced Landing Grounds, enabling seamless conduct of these operations.
The challenging terrain in the North East border areas poses challenges for the pilots pilots, especially when landing. The spokseman said some of the issues are unpredictable weather, undulating terrain, narrow corridor of approach, difficulty manoeuvring and short runways.
IAF military plane
IAF pilots undertake many daring operations with extreme precision and professionalism, thus giving a strategic fillip to these tactical operations.
The military says the exercise is an excellent opportunity for aircrew and support services to hone their skills, to carry out exacting operations.
IVTT operations were undertaken in Uttar Bharat Hills and at the Tezu-Walong in the North East sector.
The Advanced Landing Grounds in these strategic locations are supported by dedicated ground staff.
IAF plane landing.
