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Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India - In a significant boost to India's defence infrastructure and emergency preparedness, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is poised to conduct a crucial trial today, Friday, on a 3.5-kilometer airstrip strategically integrated into the under-construction Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur. This pioneering initiative marks a significant leap forward, making the Ganga Expressway the first in the nation designed to facilitate both day and night landings of advanced fighter jets.
According to an official press statement released by the IAF on Thursday, this high-stakes exercise will witness the prowess of frontline combat aircraft, including the Rafale, Jaguar, and Mirage-2000, as they execute a series of take-off and landing drills.
Notably, the trials will also encompass night operations, a critical aspect in evaluating the expressway's viability as an alternative operational runway during emergencies and bolstering overall defence readiness.
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This innovative integration of a dedicated airstrip within a major expressway underscores India's commitment to enhancing its strategic capabilities. The ability to utilize such stretches of highways as auxiliary airbases in times of need provides a crucial advantage, ensuring uninterrupted air operations even if conventional airfields are compromised.
Furthermore, the statement highlighted that this state-of-the-art airstrip will serve as a vital training base for IAF pilots, allowing them to practice critical landing and take-off maneuvers in diverse conditions.
Security around the trial site is being treated with the utmost priority. An extensive network of 250 CCTV cameras has been installed to monitor the area, ensuring comprehensive surveillance.
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The event will also witness the presence of high-ranking officials from the IAF and the Uttar Pradesh government, emphasizing the strategic importance of this undertaking.
The air show, designed to rigorously test the airstrip's capabilities, will unfold in two phases – daytime and nighttime. The exercises will include low fly-pasts to assess the airspace and approach paths, followed by actual landings and take-offs by the participating aircraft.
A diverse fleet of IAF assets is slated to participate in this landmark trial, including the formidable Rafale, the versatile SU-30 MKI, the battle-proven Mirage-2000, the agile MiG-29, the deep-penetration strike aircraft Jaguar, the heavy-lift transport aircraft C-130J Super Hercules, the reliable AN-32 transport aircraft, and the multi-role MI-17 V5 helicopter.
The Ganga Expressway, upon its full completion, will be Uttar Pradesh's fourth expressway to feature an airstrip. However, this particular stretch in Shahjahanpur holds the unique distinction of being the first in the country engineered with the crucial night landing capability.
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This technological advancement significantly enhances its strategic value, providing round-the-clock operational readiness.
This trial represents a pivotal moment in India's infrastructure development and defence strategy, showcasing the nation's ability to integrate critical security needs with large-scale infrastructure projects.
The successful validation of the Ganga Expressway as a dual-use facility will pave the way for similar initiatives across the country, further strengthening India's defence posture and emergency response capabilities.