In a historic development, an Indian Air Force (IAF) transport aircraft successfully carried out a trial landing on a highway at Moran in eastern Assam. The landing was conducted on a newly built emergency landing strip, marking a major boost to India’s emergency preparedness and strategic mobility.

The Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) has been developed along a 4.2-kilometre stretch of a four-lane highway in Moran, located in Dibrugarh district. The facility is designed specifically to support emergency landings and operations of Indian Air Force aircraft. Officials said the project is expected to strengthen the region’s aviation infrastructure and improve the operational readiness of the armed forces in Upper Assam.

The four-lane highway ELF at Moran is expected to play an important role in enhancing strategic mobility in the region during any eventualities. It is also expected to strengthen emergency response capabilities during natural disasters and defence-related situations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the facility on February 14. As per the plan, he will inaugurate the ELF by directly landing on the highway, making the event even more significant.

“This first-of-its-kind event in Assam will feature advanced fighter aircraft such as the Rafale and Su-30 MKI, along with transport aircraft including the C-130J Super Hercules and An-32, as well as the versatile Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH),” officials stated.

The facility has been built to enable emergency landing and operations of Air Force aircraft. It is expected to be formally inaugurated during the Prime Minister’s visit to Moran.

Ahead of the inauguration, security arrangements have been tightened in the area. An inspection of the newly constructed highway stretch was carried out on Tuesday to assess preparedness for the event.

The inspection was conducted by Rituparna Baruah, Chairman of the Assam Tourism Development Corporation. The review was held in the presence of Ujjwal Phukan, Deputy Mayor of Dibrugarh, and Asim Hazarika, Chairman of the Dibrugarh Development Authority.

Officials stated that the project improves the Indian Air Force’s operational preparedness in Upper Assam. They also highlighted that the initiative reflects the Centre’s focus on integrating civilian infrastructure with national security needs.

Officials stated that the emergency landing strip is expected to play a crucial role during natural disasters, defence emergencies, and strategic operations. The project is also expected to further strengthen Dibrugarh’s importance on the national map.

The successful trial landing by the IAF transport aircraft is being seen as a significant milestone for Assam, as it demonstrates the capability of the region’s highway infrastructure to support critical defence operations when required.