Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh: In a significant display of operational readiness and strategic capability, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday conducted a high-profile flypast and landing exercise on the under-construction Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur. The exercise showcased the IAF’s frontline fighter and transport aircraft, including the Rafale, Jaguar, and Mirage, executing take-offs and landings on a specially developed 3.5-kilometre stretch of the expressway.
This airstrip is part of a broader vision to utilise national infrastructure for defence operations. Designed to support both day and night landings, it marks the first such airstrip in the country and sets a precedent for future civil-military integration in infrastructure development.
The purpose of the exercise is to evaluate the expressway’s viability as an emergency runway in the event of wartime scenarios or national crises. According to an official statement, the airstrip will also function as a training and rehearsal base for the Air Force.
Security around the site was tightened, with around 250 CCTV cameras installed along the airstrip to ensure comprehensive surveillance. The Indian Air Force assumed operational control of the airstrip in coordination with the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).
The demonstration was divided into two phases—daytime and nighttime operations—to test the airstrip’s capability for 24/7 military use. Fighter jets performed low-altitude fly-pasts at just one metre above ground level, followed by full landing and take-off drills. The same sequence was repeated during the night session from 7 PM to 10 PM.
The Ganga Expressway is the first in Uttar Pradesh, and indeed across India, to be equipped with night landing facilities. This advancement is expected to greatly enhance the Indian Air Force’s ability to conduct continuous operations and strengthen national security infrastructure.
By incorporating such dual-use assets into the defence strategy, India is reinforcing its preparedness and embracing a new era of synergy between civilian infrastructure and military readiness.
