For the first time, the Indian Air Force (IAF) was able to land an aircraft using night vision goggles (NVG) on an advanced landing ground in the Eastern region. The news was shared by the IAF’s official X account, which said, “IAF C-130J aircraft carried out a successful Night Vision Goggles aided landing at an Advanced Landing Ground in the Eastern sector.”
The northeastern Indian states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Sikkim, West Bengal, and Bihar are all in the Eastern region. It is also in charge of protecting the border with China, which is 6,300 km long and includes Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
With NVG technology, the IAF can now do operations in low light that are safer and more efficient. In addition, this makes it easier for the IAF to start and finish tasks at night.
Achieving another significant milestone, an #IAF C-130J aircraft carried out a successful Night Vision Goggles aided landing at an Advanced Landing Ground in the Eastern sector.#IAF continues to expand capabilities, reinforcing commitment to safeguard nation’s sovereignty by… pic.twitter.com/nMAbDnWPhR
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 23, 2024
The IAF put up two videos on X. Through NVG, one film showed the plane’s smooth landing, and the other clip showed what it looked like from inside the plane. In the style of NVG graphics, both clips were green.
They wrote on X that this action is part of the IAF’s plan to keep getting better and “protect nation’s sovereignty by enhancing operational reach and defense preparedness.” They also said, “Har Kaam Desh Ke Naam.”
The Indian Air Force safely landed the same plane (a C130-J) at Kargil airstrip at night earlier this year. At the airstrip near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Ladakh region, this kind of action had never been done before.
The Indian Air Force has used the An-32 utility transport plane from the Kargil airstrip in the past, mostly to move civilians between Kargil, Srinagar, and Jammu, especially during harsh winters. On the other hand, the Kargil airport did not allow night landings until recently.
During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, An-12s from the IAF’s 43 Squadron were used in Kargil, Leh, and Thoise in Ladakh.
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