China has recently completed significant upgrades to its Lhunze airbase in Tibet, located approximately 40 kilometers north of the McMahon Line—the de facto boundary between India and China in Arunachal Pradesh. Situated about 107 kilometers from Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, this development substantially enhances the operational capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) near the contested border region. Satellite imagery has confirmed the construction of 36 hardened aircraft shelters, new administrative blocks, and an expanded apron at the base, enabling China to forward-deploy fighter jets, attack helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) closer to Indian positions in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
The strategic importance of these upgrades cannot be overstated. According to Air Chief Marshal (Retd) BS Dhanoa, former Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the construction of these hardened shelters signals a major shift in China’s military posture in the region. Speaking to NDTV, Dhanoa noted that the shelters would house tactical fighters and attack helicopters that would support Chinese ground forces during any future incidents. He also pointed out that critical supplies such as ammunition and fuel are likely prepositioned in underground tunnels, further enhancing the base’s operational readiness and sustainability in a conflict scenario. Reflecting on the significance of hardened shelters, Dhanoa recalled his observations during the 2017 Doklam standoff, when he highlighted that the PLAAF’s main limitation in Tibet was not the availability of aircraft but their deployment and protection. The recent construction, he said, removes a key vulnerability for China, indicating serious preparations for potential conflict.
Echoing these concerns, Air Marshal (Retd) Anil Khosla, former Vice Chief of the IAF, described the upgrades at Lhunze as a "serious strategic threat" amid rising geopolitical tensions since the 2020 Galwan clashes. The 36 hardened shelters allow for dispersal of air assets, reducing their vulnerability to concentrated attacks such as precision-guided munitions, airstrikes, and missile barrages. This dispersal capacity enables sustained air operations even under hostile conditions at high altitudes, making it considerably more difficult for opposing forces to degrade the base early in any conflict. Khosla emphasized that airbases like Lhunze, along with Tingri and Burang, are strategically located within 50 to 150 kilometers of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), allowing rapid forward deployment of PLAAF assets and coverage of Indian military positions across multiple sensitive regions, including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh.
Further intensifying the strategic challenge, new satellite images from Vantor (formerly Maxar) reveal the presence of CH-4 drones at Lhunze. The CH-4 is a high-altitude UAV capable of carrying short-range air-to-surface missiles and is equipped with an electro-optical sensor turret controlled via a secure datalink. This drone enhances China’s reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision strike capabilities along the border. In response, India plans to deploy General Atomics Sky Guardian drones by 2029—eight each for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army—as part of a $3.5 billion deal with the United States. These advanced UAVs will significantly boost India’s intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and precision strike capabilities across the challenging Himalayan terrain. Currently, Indian forces rely on less capable Israeli-made Heron and Searcher UAVs, making the planned upgrade crucial for leveling the playing field.
Air Marshal (Retd) SP Dharkar, another former Vice Chief of the IAF, acknowledged that the new infrastructure at Lhunze presents a formidable challenge for India. He noted that India’s previous operational advantage stemmed from favorable geography and elevation in the mountainous border region. However, the expansion of modern airfields and hardened shelters by China is steadily eroding this edge, enabling the PLAAF to sustain more aggressive and rapid operations in the high-altitude environment.
Geo-intelligence expert Damien Symon, contributing to The Intel Lab, highlighted that the rapid construction of hardened shelters opposite Tawang demonstrates Beijing’s clear intent to expand its air power footprint in a historically sensitive and contested region. While India maintains a robust air infrastructure nearby, the scale and sophistication of militarization at Lhunze underscore China’s determination to narrow the strategic gap. Symon explained that these developments are part of a broader Chinese initiative to strengthen multiple airbases along the Himalayan