In what comes as a major milestone in India's defence preparedness, the Indian Air Force (IAF), on Friday, began its highly-anticipated "land and go" drill on the 3.5-km stretch of the Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
This is the first airstrip in the country that has the unique capability to facilitate both day and night landings of fighter jets. The airstrip is set to enhance the strategic and operational readiness of the IAF, offering a critical asset for emergency operations, including during conflicts or natural disasters.
According to news agency PTI, the trial involves a range of IAF aircraft, including Rafale, SU-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, C-130J Super Hercules, AN-32, and the MI-17 V5 helicopter.
The exercises will test low fly-pasts, landings, and take-offs during both daylight and night-time conditions.
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Until now, similar emergency landing drills have been carried out on the Lucknow-Agra and Purvanchal expressways. However, these were limited to daytime operations.
Students from various schools and locals were among those who flocked to watch the awe-inspiring flight demonstrations on the expressway.
The success of the drill is also expected to demonstrate the potential of the expressway to act as an alternate runway during emergencies, enhancing the operational flexibility of the IAF.
The expressway has been equipped with over 250 CCTV cameras to ensure foolproof security and surveillance. Top defence and state officials were also present to oversee the proceedings.
