The Indian Air Force (IAF) has agreed to vacate the airbase at Leh district which will be used for expansion of the civilian airport by the Jammu and Kashmir government. IAF will develop its base at an alternate site in the strategically-located district of Jammu and Kashmir bordering Pakistan and China under an agreement intended to be finalised by this month end.

Similarly, the Army has agreed to vacate a large tract of land presently under its control in Kargil district, adjoining Leh, in Ladakh, which will be used for the expansion of the town. Army will be given alternate land in lieu.

 Did You Know??? 

• The IAF got its first woman Air Marshal in the form of Padmavathy Bandopadhyay.
• India is building the 5th generation Sukhoi PAK FA in collaboration with Russia.
• The first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Marshal Sir Thomas Walker Elmhirst, made the IAF an independent service under no control of the Army.
• At 22,000 ft (or 6,706 m), Siachen Glacier AFS is the highest Air Force Station of the IAF.
• The IAF was referred to as Royal Indian Air Force from 1945 to 1950.
• The IAF created a world record by performing the highest landing of a C-130J at the Daulat Beg Oldi airstrip in Ladakh at the height of 16614 feet (5065 meters).