Decks cleared for induction of IAF’s mountain radar in Ladakh

In another development, India and Japan will be conducting joint military drills, expanding its defence outreach in the Ind-Pacific Region

The decks have finally been cleared for the induction of the Indian Air Force's mountain radar in Ladakh, with the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) giving the go-ahead.

Likely to come up soon, this is an ambitious and long-debated plan to set up a High-Altitude Air to Ground Firing range in Ladakh to ensure battle readiness in hostile high reaches of the India-China border, an Economic Times report said.

At the meeting of the NBWL, chaired by Union Environment Minister, Bhupendra Yadav, the decision to transfer 3.16 hectares of land from the Changthang wildlife sanctuary in Ladakh to the IAF's mountain radar was taken.

The radar will be situated just off the proposed new IAF base, which will come up across 500 hectares of land Changsheng sanctuary and this was given the green signal last year.

The induction of the mountain radar is part of the larger defence plan too ensure that there is a watch on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which already has strong radar coverage from the Chinese side.

The Centre had indicated in November 2022 that it was looking to deploy Rs 10,000 crore worth of radars, most of which are made in India, along the LAC in view of the rising tensions with Beijing.

In addition to this there are a number of strategic linkage projects that have been mooted by the defence forces for the eastern sector. Six new operational tracks have been approved to enable the movement of defence personnel and logistics at the Batang La trijunction between India and China and in Nathu La sub-sectors, the ET report also said.

China on the other hand has already built a road into the Doklam plateau with a road to Gyemochen at the lower end of the trijunction. The operational tracks around the same area are part of the larger plan to build better access for deployment to the area at the end of the Chumbi Valley.

Meanwhile in another development, India and Japan have stepped up military partnership expanding defence outreach in the Indo-Pacific Region. India will hold joint army to army and joint military transport aircraft exercises this week with Japan.

The 4th edition of joint military exercise, 'Ex Dharma Guardian' is being conducted at Camp Imazu in Shiga province of Japan from February 17 to March 2. The Air Self-Defence Force will conduct joint transport exercise, 'Shinyu Maitri 23', with the Indian Air Force on March 1-2. These exercises coincide with the G-20 foreign ministers meet in Delhi.