The Indian Air Force recently conducted an activation of an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) airstrip on a highway in Andhra Pradesh's Bapatla district. The operation involved the use of fighter jets, including the Su-30, and transport aircraft.
During the activation, Su-30 fighter aircraft and Hawk training jets performed overshoots, while An-32 and Dornier transport aircraft successfully landed and took off from the airstrip.
This operation highlighted the seamless coordination between various civil agencies such as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), district administration, state police, and the Indian Air Force.
Constructed by the NHAI according to IAF specifications, the 4.1 km-long and 33-meter-wide concrete airstrip on National Highway 16 near Addanki provides a vital emergency landing option in Peninsular India.
ELF highway airstrips like this one enhance the flexibility of air operations during contingencies, particularly during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions in remote areas.
The IAF, in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is actively working to develop similar landing facilities across the country to bolster national security and disaster response capabilities.
