Dibrugarh/New Delhi: As per Indian media reports, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully executed trial landing and take-off operations on a newly constructed Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) in Assam, marking the operational readiness of the first such highway-based airstrip in Northeast India.
The facility, located on the Dibrugarh-Moran section of National Highway-127 (NH-127), is scheduled to be formally inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14, 2026.
Operational Trials and Assets
Media reports say that defence officials have confirmed that the trials involved multiple frontline combat aircraft, including the Sukhoi-30 MKI, the Rafale, and the indigenous LCA Tejas. Transport aircraft were also part of the validation exercises to test the highway’s load-bearing capabilities.
The 4.2-kilometer stretch has been specifically reinforced to withstand the high-impact landings of heavy military aircraft. While it functions as a standard four-lane highway for civilian traffic during peacetime, the design allows for rapid conversion into a fully functional runway during contingencies.
Strategic Context and Location
The activation of the NH-127 ELF is viewed by defence analysts as a significant infrastructural development for the Eastern Air Command, reports in Indian media note. The location in Upper Assam places the strip approximately 300 kilometers from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and about 150 kilometers from the India-Myanmar border.
The “Dual-Use” Infrastructure Model
This facility is part of a broader collaboration between the IAF and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to develop dual-use infrastructure. The concept of Emergency Landing Facilities allows air operations to continue even if conventional airbases are incapacitated due to hostile action or natural disasters.
Key specifications of the Dibrugarh-Moran ELF:
Location: NH-127, Assam (Dibrugarh-Moran section).
Length: Approximately 4.2 km.
Status: Trial runs completed; inauguration scheduled for Feb 14, 2026.
Purpose: Emergency landing, refueling, and re-arming of military aircraft; humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
Upcoming Inauguration
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to land on the airstrip aboard an IAF aircraft for the inauguration ceremony this Saturday. The event will reportedly feature a fly-past and static display of the assets capable of operating from the highway. Following the inauguration, the stretch will be reopened to regular vehicular traffic, with periodic closures scheduled only for IAF maintenance and drill operations.
