Overview

• The Indian Air Force will conduct day and night trials on a 3.5-km airstrip on the under-construction Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on May 2.
• The trials will involve advanced fighter jets like the Rafale, Jaguar, and Mirage, alongside transport aircraft and helicopters, testing take-offs, landings, and low-altitude fly-pasts.
• This airstrip is India’s first designed to support fighter aircraft landings around the clock, enhancing defence preparedness and rapid response capabilities.
• Approximately 250 CCTV cameras have been installed for comprehensive security, with the IAF assuming operational control in coordination with UPEIDA.
• Key dignitaries, including Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, Minister JPS Rathore, and senior Air Force officials, will attend the exercise, which underscores civil-military infrastructure collaboration.