With a fleet of 16 transport planes, IAF airlifts record 463 tonnes of load in a single wave

The Indian Air Force's Western Air Command on Tuesday airlifted a record 463 tonnes of load from its airbase at Chandigarh to airfields and drop zones in the Ladakh region, in a single wave. The move was to evaluate IAF's own ‘Rapid Airlift Capability’ and to enhance crew currency in the role. 

A fleet of 16 fixed wing transport aircraft comprising of C-17 Globemaster, the Ilyushin-76 Gajraj and the Medium lift Tactical aircraft, Antonov-32 took part in the effort. They were loaded at Chandigarh airbase from where they took off early in the morning. The entire wave was accomplished in little less than 6 hours.

The record airlift of approximately 500 tonnes, in the achieved time frame in a single wave, enhances the assessment of the Commands’ capability towards rapid and heavy airlift. The command has been entrusted with the air maintenance of the entire northern region of the country. Under normal operating circumstances, it airlifts close to 3000 tonnes of load per month.

Air Marshall NJS Dhillon AVSM, the SASO of Western Air Command, under whose direction the effort was achieved said that IAF's airlift capability has helped the nation on several occasions during during natural calamities.

"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. With a wide spectrum of military transport aircraft in its inventory, the IAF today has a credible airlift capability which has provided succour on numerous occasions when the nation was struck with natural calamities," said