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China Deployed Fighter Jets Near Northeastern State Sikkim

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Gangtok
  • May 31, 2024
  • 157

China has deployed state-of-the-art J20 stealth fighter jets at Shigatse airbase in Tibet, near the northeastern state of Sikkim. 

Satellite images released on May 27 revealed this. This area is only 150 kilometers away from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in India's eastern region.

According to a report by NDTV, AllSource Analysis, which monitors geospatial intelligence sources, has revealed the deployment of these fighter planes. In this, 6 Chinese J-20 stealth fighter planes can be seen standing in a line at the airbase.

Along with this, 8 J-10 fighter jets are also visible in the picture. Apart from this, a KJ-500 Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft is also visible. According to the report, the Indian Air Force is aware of the deployment of these fighter jets so close to the border. However, they have not yet commented on this.

Shigatse Airbase was earlier used only for military purposes, but since 2010 it has been used for civilian purposes as well. This airbase is at an altitude of 12,408 feet. It is the world's highest airbase. It is less than 290 kilometers away from Hasimara in West Bengal. This is the same place where India has deployed its 16 Rafale fighter jets.

This is not the first time that China has deployed J-20 fighter planes in Tibet. These planes were seen in Hotan province of Xinjiang between 2020 and 2023. 

However, the deployment of these planes is being considered a major issue.

Because such a large number of fighter planes have been captured for the first time.

The J-20 is also called the 'Mighty Dragon'. This twin-engine aircraft was inducted into the Chinese army in 2017. According to Sim Tack, an analyst at All Source Analysis, the J-20 stealth fighter jet is China's most high-tech operational fighter jet today. It has been mainly deployed in the eastern provinces of China.

According to Sim Tak, China has continuously increased its air power capacity in many areas near Tibet and India in the last 5 years. This mainly includes the construction of new airports and upgrading of existing airports.

China has deployed 250 J-20s.
The J-20 can fly at a maximum speed of 2,400 kilometers per hour and is also capable of carrying the PL-15 missile with a range of 300 kilometers. Some reports suggest that China has deployed 250 different variants of stealth fighter aircraft that are extremely difficult to detect on radar.

India is also upgrading its surface-to-air missile system. This includes the deployment of the Russian-made S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system. 

According to the reports, the S-400 is designed to intercept Chinese fighter jets along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).