SULTANPUR – The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully activated an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh on April 22, 2026. The high-stakes exercise demonstrated the IAF’s ability to transform public infrastructure into operational airbases during conflict or natural disasters.
The drill was observed by Air Marshal B Manikantan (AOC-in-C, Central Air Command) and UP State Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar.
Diverse Fleet and Night Ops
The exercise marked a significant milestone by validating both day and night operations on a highway strip. A wide array of aircraft participated to test the versatility of the landing stretch:
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Fighter Jets: Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, and Jaguar.
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Transport Aircraft: The newly inducted C-295 and the veteran AN-32.
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Special Ops: A Mi-17 V5 helicopter and a Garud Commando team were deployed for tactical drills.
Strategic & Humanitarian Importance
The ELF on the Purvanchal Expressway is designed to act as a force multiplier. These strips ensure that Indian air power remains mobile and resilient even if traditional runways are targeted.
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Conflict Resilience: Decentralizes air operations, making it harder for adversaries to neutralize the fleet.
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Disaster Relief: Enhances HADR capabilities, allowing rapid deployment of aid and troops to remote regions during emergencies like floods or earthquakes.
Inter-Agency Success
The exercise was a masterclass in coordination between the IAF, the UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), and local civil administration. The teams validated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for activating the strip in the “shortest possible time,” proving that these highway runways are not just for show but are battle-ready assets.
