The IAF on Friday commenced its much-anticipated "land and go" drill on the 3.5-km stretch of the Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district, marking a significant milestone in the country's defence preparedness. What sets this expressway stretch apart is its unique capability to facilitate both day and night landings of fighter jets, making it the first such airstrip in the country.

Until now, similar emergency landing drills were carried out on the Lucknow-Agra and Purvanchal expressways, but those were limited to daytime operations. Locals and students from various schools were among those who flocked to the expressway to watch the awe-inspiring flight demonstrations. The trial involved a range of IAF aircraft, including Rafale, SU-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, C-130J Super Hercules, AN-32, and the MI-17 V5 helicopter. The exercises tested low fly-pasts, landings, and take-offs during both daylight and night-time conditions. Uttar Pradesh government officials believe the success of the drill will also demonstrate the expressway's potential to act as an alternate runway during emergencies, enhancing the Indian Air Force's (IAF) operational flexibility.