The Veiled Vipers land at DBO!

IAF C 130J-30 SUPER HERCULES MAKES AN HISTORIC LANDING AT DAULAT BEG

OLDIE (DBO)

In a significant capability demonstration move by the IAF, a C 130J-30 Super Hercules

aircraft landed at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), the  highest airstrip in the world  at 0654 hrs today.

The Commanding Officer Group Captain Tejbir Singh and the crew of the “Veiled Vipers”

along with senior officer of Air Headquarters touched down on the DBO airstrip located at

16614 feet (5065 meters) in the Aksai Chin area after taking off from their home base at

DBO is an important Army forward area post which links the ancient silk route to china.

This base was built during the Indo-China conflict in 1962 and came into prominence when

Packet aircraft of the IAF operated from DBO between 1962 and 1965. Once again this

strategic base in the Northern Himalayas gained importance when it was resurrected and

reactivated by the IAF along with the Indian Army and made operational when a twin engine

AN 32 aircraft from Chandigarh landed there after a gap of 43 years.

Considering the very limited load carrying capability of AN 32 and helicopters, a

decision was taken by the IAF to land the C130J-30 aircraft  which is capable of lifting upto 20

tonnes of load. With this enhanced airlift capability the IAF will now be in a better position to
meet the requirements of our land forces who are heavily dependent on the air bridge for
sustainence in these higher and inhospitable areas.
The tactical airlift aircraft of the special operations squadron the  “Veiled Vipers” which

is capable of undertaking quick deployment of  forces in all weather conditions, including

airdrops and landings on unprepared or semi prepared surfaces created history today by
landing at this altitude and hostile terrain conditions. This achievement qualifies for the world
record for the highest landing by an aircraft of this class. Incidentally, this was the same
aircraft and crew that operated at Dharasu during “Op Rahat” for the Uttarakhand flood relief.
Today’s achievement will enable the forces to exploit the inherent advanced
capabilities of the aircraft by increased capability to induct troops, improve communication
network and also serve as a great morale booster  for maintenance of troops positioned
there. It is also a projection of the fact that the IAF is capable of operating in such inhospitable
terrain in support of the Indian Army.