These borderline airfields will be upgraded for handling fighter and heavy transport aircraft operations. 'The Defence Ministry has given its clearance for expanding Nyoma airbase, the proposal is awaiting clearance from Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS),' Chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne said here on Monday, ahead of the Air Force Day Celebrations.

The IAF, in due course of time, is also planning to operate fighter aircraft from these two bases in due course of time as a lot of work needs to be done to make these airstrips support modern transport aircraft such as C-130J and C-17s

Browne said : 'We are also looking at expanding the Kargil runway for operating all type of aircraft.' The expansion of existing airstrips will give a 'fair amount of both defensive and offensive options' to the IAF, he added.

'As regards Nyoma airstrip is concerned, we want to develop the base to a 12,000 feet runway and with that kind of space available, we plan to base aircraft of all types we can operate from there such as fighter class aircraft, transport and helicopters,' the Air Chief Marshall said.

Responding to a query on the infrastructure available in Kargil, he said, 'As far as Kargil is concerned. It is a much shorter strip with just 6000 feet and the width of the strip is just 100 feet. We are already operating AN-32 transport planes from there.'

On being asked about the kind of fighter aircraft which IAF is planning to operate from Nyoma and Kargil airfields, Browne said, 'we should be able to operate C-17 and C-130. We should have the capability to operate certain amount of fighter aircraft from there. But our first priority is to get the heavy transport aircraft operating from there,' he said.

The IAF chief said that with these two fully operational airstrips, the force will have more options to operate its fighter and transport aircraft. The upgradation of runway at Kargil may take a little more time than Nyoma due to the kind of work that is required there.

'We are hoping to operate the heavy transport aircraft from there by 2016. The base requires some heavy amount of land filling,' he said. Referring to the floods in Leh two years ago, Browne said because of the peculiarities of the weather and terrain there, the IAF wants to increase its options to operate in the eastern and northern Ladakh. “When we had Leh floods, if Leh had not been recovered in time, the entire mountain area would have been cut off and the entire relief work would have stopped,” he said.

“Because of the peculiarities of weather and terrain in the northern region, we want to increase our options in the eastern and northern Ladakh,' the Air Chief Marshal said.

Browne said. Kargil, which was the main target of Pakistan army in 1999 conflict, is strategically located along the LoC. Upgradation of the airstrip would help in maintaining the large number of troops deployed at high altitude there. With the capability of operating heavy lift aircraft from there, IAF can also rush in troops in large number, if required. Nyoma, which is closer to Chinese border, is located in Eastern Ladakh and its upgradation will help in augmenting the support provided to army formations there.

The IAF has the funds for the MMRCA programme. There will be a re-alignment in committed liabilities and MMRCA deliveries should begin around by 2014, he said.

The final operational clearance for HAL LCA Tejas has been delayed by one year. The IAF has planned to induct the FGFA / PAK-FA as 166 single-seaters and 48 twin-seaters.

The Kargil runway to operate all aircraft types, including all fighters and strategic lift aircraft. The Kargil airfield will be made fully operational for Lockheed Martin C-130J, Boeing C-17s and Ilyushin Il-76s.

IAF will maintain 34 fighter squadrons. Squadron No. 17 will be phased out. First four Mil Mi-17-V5s delivered last week. More deliveries expected in the coming days. By March 2012, the Indian Air Force will have 25 units and they will be based at Suratgarh. Six additional Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules ordered. These will be based in the eastern theatre.

For augmenting its chopper fleet, the IAF will induct the first batch of Russian-origin Mi-17 V5 helicopters by mid-October. India had in 2008 signed a deal with Russia to induct 80 Mi-17 V5 helicopters for strengthening its chopper fleet for humanitarian and disaster relief missions and transport operations.

The IAF will induct the first batch of Mi-17 V5s from Russia by the second week of the month, and by March next year we will have 26 of them, an IAF official said in New Delhi.

He said one of the first few helicopters would be sent to the northeast sector and will be deployed at the Bagdogra air base under the 156 helicopter Unit. The compliment of all 80 helicopters is likely to be inducted by late 2013 or early 2014, the IAF official said. The IAF is also looking to induct another 59 such choppers to replace the older Mi-17 variants and the Mi-8 choppers.

The IAF chopper fleet has also been augmented by the induction of around 19 Mi-17 IVs which were operating in the UN missions in Congo and Sudan. 'These missions have been closed and the choppers flown back from there have been provided to units located in central and eastern parts of the country,' he said.

The Mi-35 attack helicopters, which were also part of the UN operations, have been deployed in the desert sector and an attack helicopter squadron has been revived at the Suratgarh air base.

The IAF has plans of procuring over 230 helicopters including heavy, medium and light utility and attack choppers. It has also placed orders for procuring 12 VVIP helicopters for ferrying the President, Prime Minister and other important dignitaries in the country.