India’s highways could be used as runways

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is suggesting that new highways could also be designed as backup runways for its air defence fleet. The first highway to be constructed so that it could also be used as a runway is likely to be the 302km Lucknow-Agra Expressway. This route will be operational by the end of 2016. The IAF has been working on plans to build emergency runways and has been developing solutions for mobile logistics support. It has also been researching suitable road sections and the minimum infrastr
May 18, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is suggesting that new highways could also be designed as backup runways for its air defence fleet. The first highway to be constructed so that it could also be used as a runway is likely to be the 302km Lucknow-Agra Expressway. This route will be operational by the end of 2016.

The IAF has been working on plans to build emergency runways and has been developing solutions for mobile logistics support. It has also been researching suitable road sections and the minimum infrastructure requirements needed. The plans have been shared with India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The runways would serve as alternative runways for operations if key IAF air force bases were to be attacked.

The idea of using a highway as a temporary runway is by no means new. The first stretches of Germany’s Autobahn system were constructed in the 1930s and these were considered from the outset as being suited to use as temporary runways. During the latter part of WWII, a number of Autobahn sections were used as temporary runways, particularly for fighter operations. Other countries too have used sections of highway at times for military aircraft.

Road Structures

Related Content

  • European regulations for engine emissions are getting tougher
    January 4, 2013
    Emissions remain the focus for engine development but equipment manufacturers want clarity from regulators. Emissions remain a major challenge for the off-highway construction equipment market. The EU has tough targets in this respect and its objective is an overall reduction of CO2 emissions of 80-95% by the year 2050, compared to 1990 levels. There is considerable research already underway on how to reduce fuel consumption and to help ensure the security of energy supply. A number of industry sectors, suc
    Read More
  • Lintec & Linnhoff has a new plan for the Indian market
    May 4, 2021
    Lintec & Linnhoff has now ended its partnership agreement with Ardent Maschinenfabrik for the Indian market. Instead, Lintec & Linnhoff has new manufacturing plans for India and is planning to boost its facilities and resources in the country as demand continues to rise for its products.
    Read More
  • Huge investment for Moscow’s motorway routes
    May 1, 2015
    Huge investments being made in building several outbound routes in Moscow and the Moscow region – Eugene Gerden writes. Up to US$20 billion (900 billion Roubles) will be invested in the building of several outbound routes in Moscow and the Moscow region during the next few years, according to an official spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Transport. It is planned that the routes will be built as flyovers above the railroad tracks in the Yaroslavl, Kazan, Riga and Paveletskaya directions of the
    Read More
  • The use of telematics in construction machines is growing
    May 20, 2015
    Demand for telematics technology is growing, as equipment users begin to lean the value of these systems – Alan Dron reports With construction projects increasingly operating to wafer-thin profit margins, any technological assistance that can keep the accounts in the black is welcome. This is particularly the case with those projects where contractors can share a larger slice of the profits if they complete their work ahead of schedule. The downside, of course, is that they also share the pain if the
    Read More

Highlighted Content