The BRICS TimesThe Indian Air Force turned a highway into a warzone runway as fighter jets including Tejas, Sukhoi-30MKI and Jaguar performed a dramatic touch-and-go emergency exercise on the Purvanchal Expressway airstrip in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur, sending a strong signal of India’s combat readiness.
IAF turns Purvanchal Expressway into a combat runway
India’s highways are no longer just roads — they are now strategic runways ready for action. The Indian Air Force’s fighter jets and transport aircraft performed a high-intensity emergency exercise on the Purvanchal Expressway airstrip in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The exercise brought together some of the most powerful aircraft in the IAF fleet. Jets screamed low over the 3.5-kilometre airstrip, leaving spectators stunned. It sent a powerful message about India’s growing defence readiness.
Around 300 people gathered to witness this historic drill. Villagers from more than two dozen nearby villages attended the event in large numbers. The exercise began around 11 am and continued for approximately two hours. As powerful fighter jets thundered overhead, the crowd erupted in cheers, watching history unfold on a highway.
Mirage, Jaguar and Sukhoi jets thunder on the highway strip
District Magistrate Sultanpur Jasjeet Kaur confirmed that around 10 jets and aircraft took part in a touch-and-go exercise on the airstrip. One AN-32 transport aircraft completed a full landing on the strip during the drill.
She confirmed that the Mirage fighter jet, Jaguar jet and the AN-32 transport aircraft were among the key participants. “Today’s IAF emergency exercise was performed in the presence of senior IAF officials and ground staff. Mirage fighter jet, Jaguar jet and Antonov AN32 were part of today’s exercise,” said Jasjeet Kaur.
The Sukhoi fighter jet was also scheduled to participate in the exercise. However, it could not join due to bad weather conditions in Bareilly, from where its flight was planned.
Airstrip prepared for seamless fighter jet operations
For this exercise, a 5-kilometre stretch of the Purvanchal Expressway near Sultanpur had been under preparation since June 11. All road dividers were removed from the airstrip zone to allow aircraft to land and take off safely and smoothly.
“This is an emergency exercise performed by IAF to check the quality and strength of the airstrip so that emergency jets could easily land and go on the airstrip,” said the District Magistrate. The entire preparation involved close coordination between the IAF, civil administration and the Uttar Pradesh government machinery. Every detail was carefully planned to ensure a flawless operation on the ground.
Why expressway airstrips matter for India’s defence
Expressway airstrips serve a vital purpose that they act as emergency backup runways for fighter jets during national crises. If conventional airbases are targeted or destroyed in a conflict, these highway strips offer an immediate alternative for combat operations. India has been steadily investing in and expanding this highway-based defence infrastructure across the country.
Uttar Pradesh is the first state in India to have two expressway-based airstrips. One sits on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway and the other on the Purvanchal Expressway. The Purvanchal Expressway is a 340-kilometre-long corridor connecting Lucknow to eastern Uttar Pradesh. It passes through major districts including Barabanki, Amethi, Sultanpur, Faizabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh and Mau.
From 2021 to now: a growing strategic force
The first IAF exercise on the Purvanchal Expressway took place on November 16, 2021. Since then, these drills have become a regular feature and grow more sophisticated with every iteration. Each exercise tests the airstrip further and builds stronger coordination between civil and military agencies.
IAF officials conducted a thorough inspection of the Sultanpur airstrip before the exercise began. The Defence PRO stated that aircraft operations on the expressway form a key part of regular training to improve coordination between civil and military functionaries.
This exercise proves a critical point where India’s roads can transform into operational military runways when the nation needs them most. Very few countries in the world possess this capability at such a large and organised scale.
