China’s fighter jets practised over Eastern Ladakh, and India kept a close eye on them.
New Delhi: With India and China locked in a military standoff for more than a year, the Chinese Air Force recently conducted a large aerial exercise near Eastern Ladakh, which was closely observed by the Indian side.
Around 21-22 Chinese fighter aircraft, mostly J-11s, a Chinese copy of the Su-27 fighters, and a few J-16 fighters, conducted a training exercise near Indian territory in Eastern Ladakh, according to defence sources.
According to them, the Indian side was closely watching the recent exercise.
According to the reports, Chinese fighter aircraft activities took place from bases such as Hotan, Gar Gunsa, and Kashgar, which have recently been upgraded to enable operations by all types of fighters as well as concrete structures to mask the existence of the number of fighters present at its various airbases.
According to the reports, the Chinese planes stayed well within their flight paths.
According to the reports, the Chinese planes stayed well within their own territory during the aerial exercises. Since last year, Indian fighter aircraft activity in the Ladakh region has increased significantly.
“Following the Chinese troops and Air Force’s summer deployments this year, the Indian Air Force has been regularly deploying detachments of its fighters, including MiG-29s, in Ladakh,” a source said.
The Indian Air Force also frequently flies its most capable Rafale fighters over Ladakh skies, enhancing Indian capability all along the Line of Actual Control, as 24 of these planes are currently in the Indian inventory.
