IAF Conducts Landmark Day-Night “Land and Go” Drill on Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur
In a landmark move showcasing India’s advancing defence capabilities, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday initiated its much-awaited “land and go” drill along a 3.5-kilometre stretch of the under-construction Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur district.
This operation marks a significant leap forward in the country’s preparedness for emergency air operations and reinforces the strategic importance of expressway-based runways in modern warfare scenarios.
What makes this particular drill historic is that the chosen stretch of the Ganga Expressway has been specially designed to support both daytime and nighttime aircraft operations, a first for any expressway in India.
While previous emergency landing trials have been conducted on other expressways in the state — such as the Lucknow-Agra and Purvanchal expressways — those drills were limited to daylight hours.
This latest development takes India’s defence-readiness a notch higher by facilitating 24×7 fighter jet operations from civilian infrastructure.
A Spectacle for the Locals
The excitement in Shahjahanpur was palpable as locals and students from various schools in the region gathered in large numbers to witness the dramatic air manoeuvres performed by the IAF’s cutting-edge fleet.
The sight of jets streaking across the sky and gracefully touching down on a civilian road was met with awe and enthusiasm, making the event not only a strategic milestone but also a moment of pride for the local community.
A Full Spectrum of Aircraft in Action
The drill featured an impressive lineup of IAF aircraft, showcasing the breadth and capability of the Air Force’s operational inventory.
Participating in the exercise were frontline fighter aircraft including the Rafale, Sukhoi SU-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, along with transport aircraft such as the C-130J Super Hercules and AN-32, and the MI-17 V5 multi-role helicopter.
These aircraft engaged in various critical manoeuvres, including low-altitude fly-pasts, precision landings, and rapid take-offs — all under realistic operational conditions.
Importantly, these drills are being conducted during both day and night, testing not just the aircraft and pilots but also the supporting infrastructure’s capability to ensure safety, visibility, and seamless coordination in round-the-clock operations.
Enhanced Operational Flexibility for the IAF
For the Indian Air Force, the successful execution of this drill underlines a growing strategic advantage — the ability to use expressways as alternate runways during emergencies, such as wartime damage to conventional airbases or natural disasters that may limit access to established airports.
It adds a crucial layer of operational flexibility, especially in scenarios where rapid deployment and evacuation are essential.
Robust Security and Oversight
Given the high-profile nature of the exercise, over 250 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras were deployed across the expressway stretch to ensure comprehensive monitoring and security. Senior defence officials and key members of the Uttar Pradesh government were present on-site to supervise the operations, adding both administrative and tactical oversight to the exercise.
A Vision for Future-Ready Infrastructure
The Ganga Expressway, upon its completion, is set to become the fourth expressway in Uttar Pradesh to be integrated with an airstrip capable of supporting military aircraft.
However, it stands apart as the first expressway in the country to accommodate night landings, a breakthrough that could set the standard for future expressway projects across India.
State officials expressed confidence that the success of these trials would further establish Uttar Pradesh as a pioneer in infrastructure development that not only serves civilians but also bolsters national security.
The integration of such dual-purpose infrastructure is expected to play a key role in India’s evolving defence strategy, especially in an era where agility, redundancy, and rapid response capabilities are paramount.
As the Ganga Expressway nears completion, this exercise signals a promising shift toward enhanced civil-military collaboration, ensuring that India’s roads can double up as lifelines in times of need — whether during conflict or crisis.
