Moran, February 14 Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed an aerial display featuring the IAF's fighter jets and transport helicopters on Saturday, which were involved in urgent security situations and disaster response operations at the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) in Assam's Dibrugarh district.
The 4.2-km ELF in Moran – the first of its kind in the northeast region – was inaugurated by Modi earlier in the day, who arrived in Assam on a day-long visit.
During the 20-minute aerial display, the IAF pilots demonstrated precise take-off and landing on the Moran Bypass, as locals lined up behind barriers to get a view of the event.
A Sukhoi-30 MKI was the first aircraft to take off from the ELF, followed by a Rafale aircraft. Both aircraft are capable of being combat-ready within seconds of taking off, with a short run-up.
The An-32 helicopter, known as the "workhorse" of the IAF and designed for both cargo and passengers, performed a "touch and go" operation.
A formation of three Sukhoi-30 MKIs flew over the Moran sky, with the pilots demonstrating complex maneuvers, while two of the aircraft performed overshoot maneuvers on the airstrip, and the third landed at the ELF, marking the first successful landing after the formal inauguration.
A similar maneuver was performed by a formation of three Rafale aircraft, with two of the aircraft flying close to the airstrip, while the third made a landing.
Special Heli-Borne Operations (SHBO) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) using the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), which are crucial for surveillance, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and food airdrops in inaccessible and remote areas, were carried out by the domestically-developed helicopters.
As part of SHBO, a pair of ALHs touched down at the ELF, and commandos disembarked from the helicopters and took positions, demonstrating the operational preparedness of the IAF.
After the two ALHs took off after dropping off personnel, two other helicopters demonstrated the HADR operation by performing medical evacuations, bringing the aerial display to a close.
The PM, accompanied by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, among others, witnessed the display from a special platform.
Modi then flew to Guwahati for the next leg of his visit on the IAF's C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, on board which he had landed at the ELF from the Chabua air base.
Sarma had earlier said that this would be the first such "comprehensive" exercise at an ELF, with around 16 aircraft participating.
The ELF, which was developed at a project cost of nearly Rs 100 crore, has been specially designed and constructed in coordination with the IAF to support the landing and take-off of military and civil aircraft during emergencies, an official statement said.