Watch: IAF's C-130J aircraft makes historic night landing at Kargil airstrip

Located amid the challenging Himalayan terrain at an altitude exceeding 8,800 feet, the Kargil airstrip poses distinct challenges for pilots.

In a landmark feat, a C-130J aircraft of the Indian Air Force recently landed at the Kargil airstrip in the night for the first time. Sharing the video of the night landing, the IAF said, “In a first, an IAF C-130 J aircraft recently carried out a night landing at the Kargil airstrip. Employing terrain masking enroute, the exercise also dovetailed a training mission of the Garuds.”

C-130 J aircraft of the IAF recently landed on the Kargil airstrip in the night for the first time

The IAF, however, did not provide more details about the training mission.

In November last year, the IAF successfully landed two of its Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 ‘Super Hercules’ military transport aircraft at a rudimentary and unfeasible airstrip in Uttarakhand. The mission was carried out in inclement weather, to deliver heavy engineering equipment to help rescue workers trapped inside a nearby under-construction mountain tunnel.

Last year, the IAF also used this aircraft for a daring nocturnal mission in Sudan.

Located amid the challenging Himalayan terrain at an elevation exceeding 8,800 feet, the Kargil airstrip poses distinct challenges for pilots. Negotiating the high altitude, coupled with unpredictable weather patterns and formidable winds, requires pilots to exhibit exceptional precision and skill during the landing process.

Moreover, the Kargil night landing exercise seamlessly integrated with a training mission for the IAF's elite special forces unit, the Garuds. This synergistic approach not only assessed the IAF's logistical capabilities but also refined the operational coordination between its air and ground units, affirming their preparedness for any unforeseen circumstances.

The defence ministry has also been focusing on enhancing infrastructure at almost all airfields along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including the Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) as per operational requirements.

It is especially boosting infrastructure at the Daulat Beg Oldi Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) as well as the Nyoma airstrip. The Daulat Beg Oldi ALG is located close to the LAC at an altitude of 16,700 feet and is known as the highest airfield in the world.

Temperatures in Daulat Beg Oldi drop up to minus 40 degrees Celsius during harsh winter months. The Nyoma airfield is located at a height of around 13,000 feet.