The Russian-origin heavy-lift transport aircraft landed at the 13,629-foot Mudh-Nyoma airbase on Friday.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) IL-76MD heavy-lift aircraft completed the highest-altitude landing for this aircraft type anywhere in the world at the Mudh-Nyoma airbase in Ladakh on Friday, according to the Hindustan Times.
The airbase is situated at an altitude of 13,629 feet and is located approximately 23 to 25 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
The IAF described the landing as a milestone that reinforces India's strategic airlift capability. The force also stated the feat was a demonstration of the aircraft's enduring capability and the professionalism of its crew.
The Nyoma airbase was inaugurated in November last year and is capable of supporting transport planes, helicopters, and fighter jets. The project to upgrade the airstrip into a full-fledged base cost ₹218 crore and was spearheaded by a crew of women officers.
The airbase is the fourth such base in Ladakh, alongside facilities in Leh, Kargil, and Thoise. The Daulat Beg Oldi Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in the region is known as the highest airfield in the world at an altitude of 16,700 feet.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for the Nyoma airbase in September 2023, describing it as a game-changer for the armed forces.
