Jammu, Sep 18 - Coinciding with reports of Chinese intrusions into Indian territory, the Indian Air Force (IAF) Friday said it had converted a landing ground meant for helicopters into an air strip for aircraft.

The Advanced Landing Ground at Nyoma in Ladakh, about 25 km from the border, Friday morning received its first fixed wing aircraft in the form of an AN-32.

At 6.25 a.m., Group Captain S.C. Chatekar touched down on the airstrip, 13,300 feet above sea level, with Western Air Command chief Air Marshal N.A.K. Browne and Indian Army Northern Command chief Lieutenant General P.C. Bharadwaj on board.

'Helicopters have been landing here, but this is for the first time that a fixed wing aircraft has landed,' an IAF spokesperson said.

The development coincides with reports of Chinese border intrusions. China and India have denied this.

The landing was made possible after extensive surveys, said Col. D.K. Kachari, the defence ministry spokesperson in Udhampur, headquarters of the Northern Command.

The task of developing the landing ground to the standards required for fixed wing aircraft was undertaken by the Engineers Regiment of 14 Corps.