IndiaPosted at: Nov 7 2026 8:26PM


IAF's IL-76MD scripts aviation history with landing at 13,629-ft Nyoma airfield

New Delhi, Nov 7 (UNI) The Indian Air Force (IAF) has achieved a major aviation milestone with its heavy-lift transport aircraft IL-76MD successfully landing at Nyoma airfield in eastern Ladakh at an altitude of 13,629 feet, marking the highest-altitude landing ever accomplished by the aircraft anywhere in the world.
Announcing the achievement through a post on X, the IAF described the landing as a new chapter in aviation history and a demonstration of the aircraft's enduring capabilities, as well as the exceptional skill, precision and professionalism of its crew.
The feat assumes significance in view of the challenging operational environment in eastern Ladakh, where high-altitude terrain, extremely low temperatures and thin atmospheric conditions pose considerable challenges to military aviation. The successful landing demonstrates the IAF's ability to operate heavy transport aircraft at extreme elevations and further strengthens India's strategic airlift capabilities along its northern borders, the IAF said.
The IL-76MD, popularly known as 'Gajraj' in the Indian Air Force, is a Russian-origin, four-engine strategic transport aircraft used for carrying troops, military equipment, heavy cargo and essential supplies. Its ability to operate from high-altitude forward airfields provides the armed forces with greater flexibility in moving personnel and equipment to strategically important locations.
Nyoma, officially known as Mudh-Nyoma, is among India's most strategically important military aviation facilities in eastern Ladakh. Located close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, the airfield is situated at an altitude of approximately 13,700 feet and serves as a crucial logistical link for military deployments in the region.
The airfield has a significant military history, having been developed as an Advanced Landing Ground during the 1962 India-China war.
Following the 2020 India-China military standoff in eastern Ladakh, the development of forward infrastructure gained renewed urgency. The government subsequently undertook an ambitious programme to upgrade Nyoma into a full-fledged airfield capable of handling larger military aircraft, significantly enhancing the armed forces' operational reach and logistical preparedness.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for the airfield's upgradation in September 2023. The upgraded facility includes a concrete runway of approximately 2.7 km and supporting infrastructure, including aircraft parking areas, hangars and air traffic control facilities.
On November 12, last year, the then Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, formally inaugurated the upgraded airfield by landing a C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft at Nyoma.
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