The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted a significant exercise on the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where an Airbus C295 aircraft successfully executed takeoff and landing drills. This operation was part of the IAF's ongoing efforts to assess the viability of using expressways as alternative runways during wartime or national emergencies.
Exercise Highlights
Video footage captured the aircraft performing the drills, demonstrating the expressway's potential as an emergency landing field. Fighter jets also conducted a flypast over the airstrip as part of the activation exercise. The Airbus C295, known for its versatility, can carry up to eight tonnes of payload or approximately 70 troops, with a maximum cruise speed of 260 knots. It can also be configured for air-to-air refuelling of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
Aircraft Capabilities
The C295 features retractable landing gear and a 12.69-metre pressurised cabin, capable of operating at altitudes up to 30,000 feet. Its short take-off and landing capability allows it to operate from unpaved, soft, and grass airstrips. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprop engines, the aircraft can sustain operations for up to 13 hours. The engine model has been used on over 6,000 aircraft and has logged more than 160 million flight hours. Recent upgrades include winglets, which enhance performance during take-off from high-altitude airfields, improve cruising levels, extend endurance, and reduce fuel consumption by approximately three to six percent.
Roles and Applications
Beyond military use, the Airbus C295 is employed in humanitarian and non-military roles, including disaster relief, search and rescue (SAR), and surveillance operations such as monitoring illegal immigration, drug smuggling, piracy, and deforestation. It is also used for marine pollution control. Its ability to operate from unprepared airstrips makes it ideal for resupply missions in remote areas.
