Indian Air Force Showcases Its Rapid Airlift Capability: Transports 463 Tonnes Load From Chandigarh To Ladakh

The Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force conducted an exercise to evaluate its ‘Rapid Airlift Capability’ by transporting 463 tonnes load from its airbase in Chandigarh to Ladakh region, Livefist has reported.

The operation was conducted with the aid of 16 fixed wing aircraft comprising of C-17 Globemaster, the Illushin-76 Gajraj and the Medium lift tactical aircraft Antonov-32. All these aircraft were loaded from the Chandigarh airbase on early Tuesday morning (18 December). The entire transport operation was accomplished in less than 6 hours.

According to Air Marshall NJS Dhillon, who oversaw the exercise, rapid air mobility is a key component of modern warfare. “This assumes greater significance in short and intense wars. This is very true in India’s context, especially when related to air mobility to airfields in the Ladakh region”, he said.

The existing record of IAF in single wave airlifting capacity is 500 tonnes in the said time frame. The command has been entrusted with the air maintenance of the entire northern region of the country.