When the military strategists explained the term National Air Power as the sum total of all the flying assets of a nation, they perhaps overlooked the use of highways as runways for military use brought together in aid of defence of the country.
The use of highways as airstrips for take off and landing of military or civil aircraft, has been in practice since the First World War and right upto now.
Sweden showed the world how their state-of-the-art roads, surrounded by thick foliage could be used to land planes, and there after a number of countries have adopted this technique including Singapore and Pakistan.
So when the IAF demonstrated this by landing a Fighter and a Transport Aircraft on Lucknow-Agra highway on Oct 24 2017 it brought a strategically important aspect to the forefront. Fighter aircrafts like SU-30 s and Mirages, along with Transport aircraft like the C130s highlighted the fact that in absence of real runways, our highways too could be used for safe take off and landings.
India has a vast border over land and sea running close to 10,000 Kms with security threat from all sides. There is a distinct possibility of Pakistan and China opening a combined front. This vast military requirement will call for round the clock air force to provide a strike air-craft to destroy important targets in the enemy zone and tactical battle area.
However the most important point out here is that our own airfields would be under constant military attack which would lead to a certain amount of damage to these assets and hence making these unavailable for our fighter jets to use.
Operating combat aircraft from highways would also require maintenance teams, refuelling and rearming teams, fuel dumps and ammo dumps if required. The present government has earmarked a large number of Highways all around the country, like in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and plenty more to be kept ready by State governments if and when required.
Today, there are close to 36 abandoned air fields like in Salua , Dudh kundi , Chakulia , Dalbhum garh, Amardard Panagarh, Chai basa etc, between Kolkatta to Kharagpur right upto Jamshedpur which could possibly put to good use if need arises.
The most outstanding aspect of this exercise is not only cooperation between the three services using common resources, but also a complete civil-military cooperation keeping in view the safety and security of the nation, which is the need of the hour.
