The Indian Air Force (IAF) has achieved a major aviation milestone after an IL-76MD heavy military transport aircraft successfully landed at Nyoma airbase in eastern Ladakh, near India’s border with China.
The aircraft landed at an altitude of 13,629 feet (4,154 metres) above sea level, setting what the IAF described as a world record for the highest-altitude landing by this type of aircraft.
Announcing the achievement, the IAF said the operation demonstrated the aircraft’s capabilities and the skill and precision of its crew.
The landing is considered strategically significant as Nyoma airbase is located close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the disputed border between India and China.
The airbase provides India with an important military facility for the rapid deployment of troops, heavy equipment and essential supplies to remote areas along the Himalayan frontier.
Nyoma features an approximately three-kilometre runway designed to accommodate fighter jets and heavy transport aircraft.
The facility was upgraded into a full-fledged military airbase and formally inaugurated in November 2025 as part of India’s efforts to strengthen its defence infrastructure along the Chinese border.
The IL-76MD is a Russian-origin, four-engine military transport aircraft capable of carrying troops, vehicles and heavy equipment over long distances.
Operating such a large aircraft at high altitudes presents significant challenges due to thinner air, which affects engine performance and aircraft lift.
The achievement comes as both India and China continue to strengthen military infrastructure along their disputed Himalayan border following tensions in recent years.
The IAF said the successful landing marked an important step in strengthening India’s strategic airlift capabilities. (NewsWire)
