An Indian Air Force IL-76MD heavy-lift aircraft, nicknamed Gajraj, has landed at Nyoma airbase in Ladakh at 13,629 feet. It is the highest-altitude landing ever by this type of aircraft anywhere in the world. Nyoma is about 25 km from the Line of Actual Control with China. The IAF announced the landing on Saturday, 7 November.
01. Key takeaways
- IAF IL-76MD ‘Gajraj’ landed at Nyoma airbase, eastern Ladakh, at 13,629 feet.
- It is the highest-altitude landing ever by an IL-76 anywhere in the world.
- Nyoma is about 25 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
- The landing took place on Friday. The IAF announced it on Saturday, 7 November.
- Nyoma was upgraded at a cost of about Rs 218 crore and has a 2.7 km runway.
The Indian Air Force has set a world record in Ladakh. Its biggest transport plane has landed at one of the highest airbases in the world.
An IAF IL-76MD heavy-lift aircraft, nicknamed Gajraj, landed at the Mudh-Nyoma airbase in eastern Ladakh. The airbase is at 13,629 feet above sea level. No IL-76 has ever landed that high before, anywhere in the world.
The landing took place on Friday. The IAF announced it on Saturday, 7 November, in a post on X. It called it a new height in aviation history.
The IAF also shared a video of the aircraft taking off from Nyoma. That showed the landing and take-off both went well.
02. Why Nyoma matters
Nyoma is about 25 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. It is a forward airbase in a sensitive area. If the IAF can land a heavy transport plane there, it can move troops and heavy equipment close to the border, fast.
Nyoma was an advanced landing ground for years. It was used by smaller transport planes and helicopters. It was upgraded at a cost of about Rs 218 crore. It now has a 2.7 km runway that can take fighter jets, helicopters and transport aircraft. It is the IAF’s fourth airbase in Ladakh, after Leh, Thoise and Kargil.
03. What is the Gajraj?
The IL-76MD is a Russian-origin, four-engine heavy-lift transport aircraft. The IAF calls it Gajraj. It was inducted in 1985. It can carry more than 40 tonnes of cargo. It can also land on unpaved strips, thanks to its strong landing gear.
The record is for this type of aircraft. Lighter planes have landed higher. In 2013, a C-130J landed at Daulat Beg Oldie, at 16,614 feet. But no IL-76, a much heavier plane, had ever landed at 13,629 feet before.
The IAF said the landing shows the skill of the crew and the strength of the aircraft. It also shows India’s growing ability to move men and machines in the high Himalayas.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | IL-76MD ‘Gajraj’, four-engine heavy-lift transport |
| Airbase | Mudh-Nyoma, eastern Ladakh |
| Altitude | 13,629 feet |
| Record | Highest-altitude landing ever by an IL-76 |
| Distance from LAC | About 25 km |
| Nyoma upgrade | About Rs 218 crore, 2.7 km runway |
| Announced | Saturday, 7 November 2026 |
Read also: PM Modi Celebrates Diwali With Soldiers in Bastar.
04. FAQs
What record did the IAF set at Nyoma?
Its IL-76MD ‘Gajraj’ made the highest-altitude landing ever by that type of aircraft, at 13,629 feet.
Where is Nyoma airbase?
In eastern Ladakh, about 25 km from the Line of Actual Control with China.
Is Nyoma the highest airbase in the world?
No. Daulat Beg Oldie, at 16,614 feet, is higher, but it cannot take heavy-lift aircraft like the IL-76. Nyoma is the highest fighter-capable airbase in the world.
