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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is making history today with a landmark airshow on the newly constructed 3.5 km emergency airstrip along the Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur. This high-profile event, featuring both day and night phases, is the first in India to showcase fighter jets landing and taking off from an expressway designed for 24-hour operations.

According to reports, Mirage, Rafale and Jaguar fighter planes will conduct low fly-pasts, landings and take-offs on the expressway from 11:30 am to 1 pm on Friday. The action resumes in the evening, with a special night landing show scheduled from 7 pm to 10 pm, further testing the airstrip’s unique night-landing capabilities. The airshow continues on Saturday with a daytime display, which will include aerial acrobatics by the fighter jets, though there will be no night segment on the second day.

The airstrip, built at a cost of Rs 36,230 crore as part of the 594 km Ganga Expressway project connecting Meerut to Prayagraj, is now the fourth expressway in Uttar Pradesh to feature an airstrip for IAF operations. However, it stands out as the first in the country with night landing capability, marking a significant leap in India’s defence preparedness.

The IAF’s most advanced fighter and transport aircraft are participating, including the Rafale, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, SU-30 MKI, MiG-29, C-130J Super Hercules, AN-32 and MI-17 V5 helicopters. The airshow is being used to assess the expressway’s potential as an alternative runway during times of war or national emergencies, as well as to demonstrate the IAF’s rapid response and operational strength.

Security is tight, with around 250 CCTV cameras installed along both sides of the airstrip and comprehensive arrangements overseen by the IAF and the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA). A German hangar with seating for up to 250 people has been set up for dignitaries, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, senior state officials and representatives from the Adani Group.

This exercise not only reinforces India’s defence infrastructure but also highlights the growing synergy between civil and military domains, paving the way for enhanced strategic mobility and preparedness in critical situations.

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