[citation needed] During the Sino-Indian War, prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru agreed to allow the Central Intelligence Agency to fly U2 reconnaissance missions over India in order to surveil the India-China border.

[3][4] The first aircraft was delivered in the mid 60s and was a World War II vintage C-46 which was outfitted with an oxygen distribution system for operator and flight personnel along with surveillance electronics and recording equipment at the Air America base in Tainan, Taiwan.

In 2011, the Government of India which controls the airbase announced that it will be converted into a full-fledged Indian Air Force station with six C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft.

[5][6][7] But the plans for setting up such a station was subsequently cancelled and the C-130 Hercules transport unit was shifted to Panagarh air force base in West Bengal.

The aircraft are fitted with electronic surveillance equipment and long range cameras capable of taking pictures of targets from high altitudes.