China expands air base near Ladakh, fighter jets on tarmac reveals satellite images

In a report published by news channel NDTV have shown that massive construction activity is underway at a high-altitude Chinese air base, about 200 kilometres from Pangong Lake, where a skirmish between the Indian and Chinese forces occurred on May 5 and 6. The images, according to the news channel, were sourced from open source intelligence expert @defresfa_ and they show Ngari Gunsa airport in Tibet. According to the report, there has also been an addition of a second taxi-track or secondary tarmac. This helps in the positioning of helicopters or combat aircraft.

The images, according to the news channel, were sourced from open source intelligence expert @defresfa_ and they show Ngari Gunsa airport in Tibet. According to the report, there has also been an addition of a second taxi-track or secondary tarmac. This helps in the positioning of helicopters or combat aircraft. The third image obtained by the news channel show the main tarmac of the airport, with either J-11 or J-16 fighters of the Chinese Army lined up. Their deployment, according to the report, was first spotted in December 2019.The report states that the location of the base is significant, since it is among the highest in the world and is a dual-use airport serving both military and civilian purposes. However, according to the report, while there is advantage to an air base this close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), jets at such altitude are capable of carrying limited war-load and fuel.Ever since the skirmish, tensions between India and China in the region have been high, with reports indicating that several thousand Chinese troops crossed the LAC, or are close to it.