Indian Air Force (IAF) recently carried out a night landing at Kargil airstrip on its C-130J aircraft, which is also called the Super Hercules. Lockheed Martin's C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the IAF said the exercise also helped in a training mission of the Garuds. The Garud Commando Force is the special forces unit of the IAF.
Here is a look at the special landing:
In a first, an IAF C-130 J aircraft recently carried out a night landing at the Kargil airstrip. Employing terrain masking enroute, the exercise also dovetailed a training mission of the Garuds.#SakshamSashaktAtmanirbhar pic.twitter.com/MNwLzaQDz7
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) January 7, 2024
IAF pilots had earlier shown daredevilry in the Uttarakhand tunnel rescue mission using the same aircraft.
The IAF successfully landed two Super Hercules aircraft on a primitive and challenging airstrip in Uttarakhand. This critical mission, conducted amid adverse weather conditions, aimed to transport heavy engineering equipment for the rescue of 41 workers trapped inside the under-construction mountain tunnel.
Last year, the IAF also used this aircraft for a daring nocturnal mission in Sudan. The IAF manoeuvred its C-130J Super Hercules onto an unprepared runway amidst darkness to evacuate 121 individuals from a small airstrip in conflict-ridden Sudan.
The airstrip in Wadi Sayyidna presented a challenging scenario as it lacked navigational approach aids, fuel, and landing lights essential for guiding aircraft during nighttime landings. However, the IAF executed a flawless landing, using Night Vision Goggles (NVGs).
(Edited by : Amrita)
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