Indian Air Force fighter and transport aircraft conducted operations at an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) airstrip on National Highway 16 near Addanki in Bapatla district. During the activation Su-30 and Hawk fighter aircraft successfully overshot, while An-32 and Dornier transport aircraft landed and later took off from the strip. The activation demonstrated a high level of coordination and interaction between civilian agencies such as National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), district administrations, state police and IAF to conduct complex multidisciplinary activities.
Earlier, such activation was held on 29 December 2022. The 4.1 km long and 33 meter wide concrete airstrip has been constructed by NHAI as per the specifications provided by the Indian Air Force. While other airstrips are already operational in different parts of the country, this ELF in Andhra Pradesh has recently been commissioned in Peninsular India.
ELF highway airstrips increase the flexibility of air operations during contingencies and are invaluable assets during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations in remote areas. The Indian Air Force is jointly working with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for construction of ELFs at suitable locations.