In a major display of operational readiness, the Indian Air Force carried out an Emergency Landing Field activation drill on the Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur. The exercise featured frontline fighter jets like Su-30MKI, Jaguar, and Mirage 2000 executing high-speed touch-and-go manoeuvres, while the newly inducted C295 transport aircraft performed full landings and takeoffs on the highway strip. Helicopters also carried out troop insertion operations. The drill simulates wartime conditions where fixed airbases may be targeted, showcasing India’s ability to use civilian infrastructure as alternative runways. With multiple such landing strips being developed across the country, the exercise highlights a shift towards flexible, resilient, and rapid-response military operations.