The Indian Air Force (IAF) demonstrated its operational readiness on May 2, 2025, with a major flypast and landing drill on the Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Conducted on a 3.5-kilometre-long airstrip, the exercise featured Rafale, Jaguar, and Mirage jets, testing the expressway’s capability as a wartime or emergency runway.
The Shahjahanpur airstrip is India’s first to support both day and night fighter aircraft landings, making it a strategic asset for defence. The event is being held in two phases—day and night, with low fly-pasts, take-offs, and landings, including drills from 7 PM to 10 PM.
Security was strengthened with the installation of 250 CCTV cameras, and the IAF assumed full control of the site in coordination with UPEIDA. This marks the first time any Indian expressway has been equipped for night landings, significantly boosting the IAF’s round-the-clock operational capability.
