India-China Relations: Amid the confrontation on the LAC, China has deployed its most advanced J-20 stealth fighter aircraft at Tibet Airfield in the eastern region opposite India. This airfield is a few miles away from the LAC. The People’s Liberation Army-Air Force (PLAAF) has deployed 6 J-20 fighter jets at Shigalje Dual Use Airport.
According to the Times of India report, this area is 155 kilometers away from the LAC, while its distance from Doklam is very less. Not only this, China has already deployed J-10 fighter jets and KJ 500 airborne early warning and control system at this airport.
The aircraft arrived at the airport on 27 May
“Multiple (satellite) images collected on the same day show that these aircraft (J-20) arrived at the air force base on May 27, preceded by the arrival of a Y-20 transport aircraft for possible deployment of ground crew and support equipment,” All Source Analysis, which tracks geospatial intelligence, said on social media platform X.
India has also deployed Sukhoi and Rafale
India has already deployed a squadron (18 jets) of its most advanced French Rafale in its eastern sector. It has been deployed at Hasimara Air Base in West Bengal. Along with this, the Indian Air Force has already deployed Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets in Hasimara, Chabua and Tezpur in the Eastern Sector. At the same time, Sukhoi is also deployed in Ambala to compete with Pakistan on the Western Front.
A senior defence official told the Times of India that the twin-engine J-20 fighter jets are “possibly in Shigatse for high-altitude trials.” Earlier too, since the military standoff began in eastern Ladakh in May 2020, the PLAAF has been regularly deploying the J-20 to its airfields in the western region such as Hotan airfield in Xinjiang, which is about 240 km from the LAC.