Key Points
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted India’s first-ever night landings and take-offs of fighter jets on a public expressway, marking a historic milestone for national defense.
- The 594-km Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh now features the country’s first expressway airstrip engineered for both day and night military operations, complete with advanced lighting, navigation systems, and 250 CCTV cameras.
- The exercise involved Rafale, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, C-130J Super Hercules, AN-32, and MI-17 V5 helicopters, demonstrating India’s rapid-response capability amid rising regional tensions.
- The 3.5-km airstrip near Shahjahanpur is built with high-strength concrete, GPS-guided aids, and a convertible design to switch seamlessly from expressway to runway in emergencies.
- The Ganga Expressway is now the fourth in UP to host an IAF airstrip, but the first in India to enable 24/7 fighter jet operations, enhancing both civilian mobility and military preparedness.
New Delhi: In a landmark demonstration of India’s growing defense capabilities, the Indian Air Force (IAF) executed the nation’s first-ever night landings and take-offs of fighter jets on a public expressway. The historic event unfolded on the newly built 3.5-kilometer airstrip of the Ganga Expressway near Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, transforming the state’s longest highway into a dual-use strategic asset.
A First in Indian Aviation: Night-Ready Expressway Airstrip
This achievement positions the Ganga Expressway as India’s first expressway specifically designed for both day and night fighter aircraft operations. The airstrip is equipped with state-of-the-art LED lighting, GPS-guided navigation systems, tactical runway markings, and round-the-clock surveillance via 250 CCTV cameras. These features enable precision landings and take-offs even in low-visibility conditions, setting a new benchmark for dual-use infrastructure in India.
Show of Strength: IAF’s Multi-Phase Exercise
The IAF’s “touch and go” exercise was conducted in two phases to test the expressway’s operational readiness:
- Daytime Drills: The sequence began with an AN-32 transport aircraft’s ceremonial flyover, followed by landings and take-offs by helicopters and fighter jets including Rafale, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, and Jaguar.
- Night Operations: From 7 PM to 10 PM, the airstrip came alive with the roar of fighter jets performing low-altitude flypasts and precision landings, guided by the expressway’s advanced lighting and navigation systems.
Spectators and defense officials were awestruck by the seamless transition from road to runway, highlighting India’s preparedness to deploy air power rapidly in times of crisis.
Strategic Engineering for National Security
The Ganga Expressway’s airstrip is built with high-strength concrete and a convertible design-featuring removable median dividers and an obstruction-free runway. This allows the highway to be quickly transformed into a fully operational airstrip during emergencies, such as war or natural disasters. The expressway spans 594 kilometers, connecting Meerut to Prayagraj and traversing 12 districts, making it a vital economic and strategic corridor.
A New Era in Civil-Military Infrastructure
With regional security concerns heightened after the Pahalgam terror attack, the integration of such airstrips into national highways is a forward-looking strategy. It provides the armed forces with additional operational flexibility and redundancy, ensuring that India’s highways can serve as lifelines for both civilian mobility and military response.
Fourth IAF Airstrip in UP, But a National First for Night Ops
While Uttar Pradesh already hosts IAF airstrips on the Agra–Lucknow, Purvanchal, and Bundelkhand expressways, the Ganga Expressway stands out as the first in India to support round-the-clock fighter jet operations. This leap in dual-use infrastructure underscores India’s commitment to both rapid economic development and robust national defense.
The IAF’s successful night landings on the Ganga Expressway mark a new chapter in India’s defense and infrastructure story. With advanced technology and strategic foresight, India’s highways are now ready to double as runways-ensuring the nation is prepared for any contingency, day or night.
