IAF fighter jets Rafale, Sukhoi, Jaguar light up night skies in combat drills on Ganga Expressway

Precision landings, coordinated take-offs, and tactical operations were part of the night-time combat drills involving fighter jets Rafale, Sukhoi, Jaguar, and Mirage-2000 of the Indian Air Force (IAF), conducted at India's first expressway airstrip on the Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

The fighter jets and transport aircraft AN-32, the C-130J Super Hercules, and MI-17 helicopters simulated touch-and-go landings and combat operations on the 3.5-kilometre airstrip between 7 pm and 10 pm, showing their combat readiness and disaster response capabilities.

Superintendent of Police Rajesh Dwivedi told news agency PTI that some fighter jets were seen landing with the help of ropes dropped from helicopters, followed by ground tactical deployment.

READ MORE: IAF begins landing drills on Ganga Expressway in UP. Why is this important for India's defence preparedness?

"Despite strong winds and unfavourable weather during the day, the drill was completed successfully, with the night operations proving to be smoother and more efficient," Dwivedi was quoted as saying.

The Ganga Expressway is the first in the country to support both day and night fighter jet landings.

Night operations, enabled by advanced systems like Category II Instrument Landing System (ILS), allow the force to be ready for missions round the clock, enhancing the capability of the IAF to quickly disperse, regroup, refuel, and counterattack in times of conflict.

So far, emergency landing drills could be carried out only on the Lucknow-Agra and Purvanchal expressways. These, however, were limited to daytime operations.

Defence