IAF to Conduct Day-Night Air Drills on Ganga Expressway Amid Rising Tensions After Pahalgam Attack

In the wake of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that claimed 26 lives, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is preparing to conduct a significant day-and-night air exercise on the under-construction Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The operation, set for Friday, underscores India’s heightened state of readiness.

Representational image. File image/AP

According to a report by News18, a 3.5-km emergency airstrip on the expressway will serve as the staging ground for both take-off and landing drills. The exercise will involve some of the IAF’s most advanced aircraft, including Rafale, Jaguar, and Mirage jets, as well as key transport aircraft.

The primary objective of the drill is to evaluate the feasibility of using the expressway as an alternative airstrip during wartime or national emergencies. Notably, this marks the first airstrip in India specifically designed to support both daytime and nighttime landings of fighter jets, enhancing the IAF’s operational preparedness.

The air exercise will be executed in two phases — one during the day and another in the evening (7 PM to 10 PM) — to test night-landing capabilities. Fighter aircraft will perform low-altitude fly-pasts at just one meter above the ground, followed by full take-off and landing maneuvers in both sessions.

In preparation, the Indian Air Force has taken full operational control of the airstrip. Approximately 250 CCTV cameras have been installed for enhanced security. Coordination is being managed by IAF personnel alongside officials from the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).

Several dignitaries are expected to attend the event, including Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, Minister of State for Cooperation JPS Rathore, senior IAF commanders, and local leaders.

The participating aircraft include: (From First Post)

• Rafale – All-weather multirole fighter equipped with electronic warfare capabilities and Meteor missiles

• SU-30 MKI – India-Russia developed twin-seater jet armed with BrahMos cruise missiles

• Mirage-2000 – French-origin jet with deep-strike and nuclear delivery capabilities

• MiG-29 – High-speed, radar-evading fighter with advanced agility

• Jaguar – Precision ground-attack aircraft, effective in anti-ship missions

• C-130J Super Hercules – Heavy-lift aircraft vital for special operations and humanitarian efforts

• AN-32 – Reliable transport aircraft for high-altitude regions

• MI-17 V5 – Multi-role helicopter for rescue, medical evacuation, and disaster relief

With this development, the Ganga Expressway becomes the fourth expressway in Uttar Pradesh to feature an emergency airstrip, joining those on the Agra-Lucknow, Purvanchal, and Bundelkhand expressways. However, it stands out as the first in both the state and the country capable of supporting night operations.

Conclusion

This landmark exercise not only showcases India’s growing defence capabilities but also reaffirms the strategic importance of infrastructure in national security. As tensions rise in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, the IAF’s preparedness and rapid deployment capacity are being visibly reinforced through such drills — especially those capable of functioning around the clock.