Operation Meghdoot completed 40 years of its operation today on Saturday, April 13 in the Indian Army and Indian Air Force service with its sustained role in securing the Siachen glacier, the world’s highest battlefield.
The operation started with the aim of dominating the Northern Ladakh region involving airlifting of Indian Army soldiers by the IAF and dropping them on the glacial peaks to counter the rising concerns and set its claim back in the region.
A Historical Overview
Back in time, the concerns were Pakistan’s cartographic aggression and foreign mountaineering expeditions from legitimizing Pakistan’s claim on Siachen. India, after receiving the intelligence inputs of the Pakistan military actions in the region reacted resulting in deployment of the Indian Army to strategically occupy crucial mountain peaks and passes.
Gaining a tactical advantage, the IAF’s An-12s, An-32s, IL-76s, and a fleet of helicopters, including the Mi-17, Mi-8, Chetak and Cheetah, were instrumental in transporting troops and supplies to the high-altitude region, despite the temperatures and conditions posed severe challenges. It stationed about 300-odd troops on the crucially important peaks and passes of the glacier playing an irreplaceable role despite Pakistan advancing its troops.
Evolving Role of IAF
IAF gradually expanded its role and presence in the region, having already been operating in the Siachen Glacier since October, 1978 with the Chetak helicopters, the first IAF helicopter to land in the Glacier. Providing its valuable support to the Army’s military dominance in the region. Kick-starting from September 1984 with the fighter Hunter aircraft operation from the high-altitude airfield at Leh. Over the years,The Hunters conducted more than 700 sorties in the region, boosting the morale of the Indian troops and sending a clear message to opponents. The IAF later inducted MiG-23s, MiG-29s, and even the Cheetal helicopters, which carries out live armament sorties having firing range at Kar Tso, south of Leh. especially re-engineered for high-altitude operations.
Recent Achievements
In a significant demonstration of its capabilities at this date, practically all IAF aircraft, including the Rafale, Su-30MKI, Chinook, Apache, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk III and Mk IV, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, C-17, C-130 J, IL-76, and An-32, support Operation Meghdoot.
More recently, on August 20, 2013, the IAF demonstrated its capacity by landing one of its most recent purchases, the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules four-engine transport aircraft at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), the world’s highest airstrip, close the line of actual control in Ladakh. In 2009, the IAF inducted Cheetal helicopters to operate on the glacier. The Cheetal is a re-engineered Cheetah helicopter with a TM 333 2M2 engine that provides greater reliability and load carrying capability at high altitudes.
A Continuing Saga of Courage and Skill
The IAF’s performance at the extremes of temperature and altitude remains a remarkable saga of courage and skill. Since then, the IAF helicopters have continued the four-decade old military operation by reacting to emergencies, supplying necessary logistics, and evacuating the sick and wounded from the 78 km long glacier. The IAF sets new marks for human endurance, piloting, and technological skill almost every day while operating in such harsh terrain every day.