Chinese authorities have ramped up construction at airbase close to Arunachal border — with work already completed for 36 hardened shelters in Tibet. The Lhunze airbase is located about 40 kilometers north of the India-China boundary and about 107 kilometers away from the strategic town of Tawang.
According to an NDTV report, the construction gives China the option of forward-deploying fighter aircraft and a host of drone systems in its arsenal. Satellite imagery accessed by the publication showed 36 hardened aircraft shelters that have been constructed next to a new apron. There also appears to be multiple hangars that are presently under construction in the same area. Several other buildings — including presumed administrative areas — can also be seen on the aerial photos.
“Construction of 36 hardened aircraft shelters at Lhunze clearly indicates that during the next incident, their tactical fighters and attack helicopters operating in support of their army would be based in Lhunze,” retired Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa told the publication.
The former Indian Air Force chief also opined that ammunition and fuel was likely to have been already prepositioned in the underground tunnels in this area.