(Image source from: Indiatoday.in)

At the eastern shores of Pangong Lake in Tibet, located around 110 kilometers from one of the conflict areas of the 2020 border disputes, there has been a lot of building work happening. Pictures taken from satellites reveal that a new Chinese air-defense setup is being built, which includes control buildings, sleeping quarters, storage for vehicles, munitions, and radar stations. However, experts highlight that the most fascinating aspect of this facility is a variety of hidden missile launch sites, which are thought to have roofs that can be retracted for vehicles that transport, set up, and fire missiles. Intelligence specialists think these fortified shelters could hide and protect China's long-range HQ-9 Surface-to-Air Missile systems. This design was first spotted by researchers at AllSource Analysis, a geo-intelligence firm based in the US, who also found a similar facility in Gar County, which is about 65 kilometers from the Line of Actual Control, directly across from India's recently improved Nyoma airfield.

Satellite images from the Open-Source Intelligence Team of Vantor, a US space intelligence company, verify that there are sliding roofs over the suspected missile launch areas, each large enough for two vehicles. Satellite photos from September 29 show that at least one missile launch position at Gar County had its roof open, possibly exposing the launchers below. AllSource Analysis noted in a statement released on Wednesday that, “The covered missile launch sites have roofs with openings that let the launchers stay hidden and safe while they can fire when the roofs are opened.” They added, “This setup makes it harder to detect where the Transporter Erector Launchers are within the facility and protects them from potential attacks.”

Although these protected launch spots are a new addition along the India-Tibet border, similar structures have been reported at Chinese military bases on the disputed islands of the South China Sea. The initial construction of this second facility near Pangong Lake was first noticed by geospatial researcher Damien Symon in late July, although the specifics about the hidden missile launch sites were not known back then. Another notable feature, as highlighted by ASA analysts, is the installation of wired data connections, believed to link different parts of the HQ-9 air defense system to its command center. Some areas of the facility close to Pangong Lake are still being built.