IAF holds landing drills on Ganga Expressway amid rising tensions with Pakistan

The Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out its much anticipated "land and go" exercise on Friday over a 3.5-kilometer stretch on the Ganga Expressway in the Shahjahanpur area of Uttar Pradesh, showcasing an unbeaten display of air power and accurate flying.

The first-of-its-kind exercise displayed a fleet of frontline aircraft which included the Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, AN-32 transport aircraft, C-130J Super Hercules, MI-17 helicopters, and Rafale. With the combination of live demonstrations, the Air Force showcased its combat capacity and preparedness for disaster response throughout the exercise.

The showcase was held on a 3.5-kilometer section of the Ganga Expressway that was specifically constructed to serve as a military emergency airport. Officials anticipate that the dual-use infrastructure will be essential to disaster relief efforts and defense logistics. 

Chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, state finance minister Suresh Khanna, and Union minister of state for electronics and IT Jitin Prasada were among the top defense officials present during the demonstration.

Low fly-pasts, landings and takeoffs in both daylight and night time conditions will be tested during the drills.

The success of the exercise, according to state government officials, will also show that the expressway can serve as a backup runway in an emergency, increasing the IAF's operational adaptability.

More than 250 CCTV cameras have been installed along the motorway to provide unbeatable security and surveillance. Prominent state and defense officials were also in attendance to supervise the activities.

Locals and students from different schools gathered to witness the breathtaking air displays on the motorway.

When the Ganga Expressway is completed, it will be the first in Uttar Pradesh with an emergency airstrip that can accommodate night landings, making it operationally ready around-the-clock.

Anil Gupta, the district general secretary for the BJP, claimed that the new airstrip's close proximity to the Pakistani border gives it a strategic edge.

"In the event of an attack on our airbases during wartime, fighter jets can now take off from this expressway itself. This is a historic milestone for Shahjahanpur district," he said.

The Ganga Expressway is the first to facilitate fighter jet landings at night as well as during the day, in contrast to the Purvanchal and Lucknow-Agra expressways, which conducted comparable emergency landing exercises during the day. The purpose of the air show was to demonstrate that the freeway could be used as a backup runway in the event of a disaster or conflict. 

Written by:-
Aadrika Tayal