The Indian Air Force (IAF) expanded its net of Emergency Landing Facilities (ELFs) across the country after it carried out a successful landing of its aircraft on a highway strip in Andhra Pradesh.
"Su-30 and Hawk fighters successfully carried out overshoots during the activation, while An-32 and Dornier transport aircraft landed and subsequently took off from the strip," the IAF said in a statement on Tuesday.
"ELF highway airstrips enhance flexibility of air operations during contingencies and are invaluable assets during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in far flung areas. IAF, with Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) are working jointly for creation of ELFs at suitable locations," it added.
The airstrip built on National Highway Number 16 is located in Addanki town of Bapatla district of the South Asian nation's southeastern state.
The maiden activation of an ELF in India was done on a highway in Rajasthan state's Barmer district in September 2021.
Subsequently, the IAF published a report in which it identified 28 sites for the creation of ELFs in India.
Of these, many have become operational, including the one on the high-speed Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh.