IAF aircraft to try highway touchdown in Barmer, including one with Rajnath Singh and Gadkari
By Anish Kumar | First Published Sep 6, 2021, 8:34 PM ISTThe fighter jets that would 'touch-and-go' on the Barmer highway would include Sukhoi-30MKI and Jaguars. Besides, the Hercules C-130J transport aircraft will also attempt to land on the highway.
Aiming to deal in a war-like situation, the Indian Air Force will conduct a touchdown exercise on the Barmer highway in Rajasthan along the Pakistan border on September 9.
Indian Air Force sources said that the exercise will be a part of IAF's operational preparedness.
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In the past few years, the border infrastructure has been enhanced significantly.
The Border Road Organization and the National Highway Authority of India have constructed several highways and tunnels along the border areas.
The fighter jets that would 'touch-and-go' on the Barmer highway would include Sukhoi-30MKI and Jaguars. Besides, the Hercules C-130J transport aircraft will also attempt to land on the highway.
During the exercise, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will also be present on the occasion.
"An aircraft carrying the ministers will also be landing on the highway," the sources said.
The two ministers will inaugurate the 3.5 km-long strip on the Barmer highway which will be used to handle emergency landings.
So far, the Indian Air Force has identified 12 National Highways where such airstrips can be developed. Prior to this, the IAF had conducted a 'touchdown' exercise thrice in Uttar Pradesh in 2016 and 2017.
In 2017, over 20 fighter and transport aircraft had participated in the exercise on Agra-Lucknow Expressway.
A senior official said, "During the war-time, the adversary always try to damage the runway so that no air operations can be carried out. So to deal with such situation, drill-like touchdown on the highway is conducted."
Besides dealing with war-like situations, it will also be useful in carrying out humanitarian and evacuation processes during natural disasters. Initially, 21 National Highways were identified but the IAF has given clearance to 12 National Highways, with three of those connecting Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha -- all Maoist-infested areas.
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