The Indian Army has established a remarkable achievement in Eastern Ladakh with the deployment of over 500 tanks and infantry combat vehicles, setting up two of the world's highest tank repair facilities in the region to support its operations. These armoured vehicle maintenance and repair facilities are located near the China border in Nyoma and the DBO Sector, situated at altitudes exceeding 14,500 feet. This area represents the world's highest battlefield for tanks and infantry combat vehicles along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. 

Since the onset of the standoff between India and China in April-May 2020, a significant deployment of tanks, BMP combat vehicles, and domestically manufactured armoured vehicles like the Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles has been made in Eastern Ladakh. Indian Army officials have noted that these tanks and infantry combat vehicles are stationed in super-high-altitude regions, posing significant challenges for maintenance and repair due to the difficulty in retrieving them from these remote areas. 

To sustain armoured vehicle operations in the region, Medium Maintenance (Reset) Facilities have been established at Nyoma and near KM-148 on the DS-DBO Road in the DBO sector. These are the primary areas where tank and Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) operations are concentrated in the eastern Ladakh sector, as per Indian Army officials. 

In a significant development, the Indian Army has been investing extensively in infrastructure to accommodate its tanks, including the T-90 and T-72, BMPs, and the K-9 Vajra self-propelled Howitzers, in high-altitude areas characterised by extremely low temperatures during winter. 

Recently, Army Chief General Manoj Pande visited the Medium Maintenance (Reset) Facility for Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs), where he observed the unique maintenance setup. According to army officials, these new facilities are aimed at enhancing the serviceability and mission reliability of tanks and infantry combat vehicles in challenging terrain. 

The officials highlighted that these facilities ensure the combat fleet remains operationally ready even in rugged terrain and challenging weather conditions, where temperatures can plummet to minus 40 degrees Celsius. 

By staging forward specialist technical support infrastructure for Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs), the Indian Army has achieved higher standards of operational efficiency and battle readiness. 

The standoff between India and China in the eastern Ladakh region has persisted for the past four years. Both countries have deployed approximately 50,000 troops each near the borders of the region. 

During the period of aggression, China deployed a significant number of infantry, combat vehicles, and tanks in an attempt to unilaterally alter the status along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the region. In response, the Indian Army acted swiftly, mobilising heavy armoured elements from desert and plain regions. These armoured units were transported to the conflict zone using C-17 transport aircraft to effectively counter the adversary's actions. 

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