Satellite imagery shows 8 K-8 light attack and training jets and more than 24 military vehicles at the Ban Keun site. The runway is undergoing expansion to allow for larger surveillance and intelligence aircraft to operate from the base. The location previously served as a secret CIA airfield used by Air America during the Vietnam War.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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China Establishes First Overseas Air Force Base in Laos
Geopolitics13 days ago
Beijing's installation near Vientiane in Laos increases its global military footprint to 3 foreign sites and marks a 2nd presence in Southeast Asia, Foreign Policy reports. The facility now serves as the nation's first overseas air force base, converting what the government previously described as a joint training center into a formal military hub.
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