IAF showcases Rafale, Mirage, Jaguar operations on UP’s Ganga Expressway airstrip | WATCH
Shahjahanpur (Uttar Pradesh): The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday carried out a demonstration of its combat and transport aircraft on the under-construction Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting the strategic utility of the expressway’s newly developed airstrip.
The IAF conducted both take-off and landing manoeuvres on a specially prepared 3.5-kilometre stretch of the expressway in Shahjahanpur district. Participating aircraft included frontline jets such as the Rafale, Mirage 2000 and Jaguar, underscoring the Air Force’s operational preparedness in utilising non-traditional airbases during critical situations.
The high-profile exercise aimed to test the viability of the expressway as a makeshift runway in case of wartime emergencies or other national contingencies.
According to an official statement issued a day prior to the exercise, "This will be the first airstrip in the country designed to support day and night landings of fighter aircraft, making it a strategic asset for defence preparedness. It will also serve as the Air Force's training and rehearsal base."
To ensure tight security around the site, authorities have installed approximately 250 CCTV cameras along both sides of the runway. The IAF has assumed operational control of the area, in coordination with the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).
District officials confirmed that the event would unfold in two segments—day and night—to test the feasibility of night operations. Fighter aircraft will execute fly-pasts at a strikingly low altitude of one metre before performing landing and take-off procedures. The same routine will be repeated between 7 pm and 10 pm to evaluate the strip's night-time performance.
The Ganga Expressway is not only Uttar Pradesh’s first expressway designed for such dual use, but also the country's inaugural facility enabling fighter jets to conduct night landings. This development is expected to bolster the IAF’s capability to operate continuously under all lighting conditions.
Seen as a milestone in enhancing India’s military readiness, the exercise reflects an evolving approach toward utilising civilian infrastructure for defence needs, signalling a stronger integration between civil and military sectors.