Moran (Assam) Economy India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday witnessed a special aerial demonstration by the Indian Air Force at the newly inaugurated Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) in Moran, located in Assam’s Dibrugarh district.
The 4.2-kilometre-long ELF — the first such facility in Northeast India — was inaugurated earlier in the day by the Prime Minister during his one-day visit to the state. The facility has been designed to support emergency landing and take-off operations for both military and civilian aircraft.
During the 20-minute aerial display, IAF pilots showcased precision manoeuvres, emergency response capabilities, and rapid deployment readiness. A Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet was the first to take off, followed by a Rafale aircraft, underlining India’s frontline air combat preparedness.
The IAF’s transport aircraft An-32, often described as the force’s “workhorse”, demonstrated a ‘touch-and-go’ landing, simulating emergency logistics operations. This was followed by formation fly-pasts by Sukhoi-30 MKI and Rafale jets, with select aircraft landing at the ELF while others performed overshoots.
The indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) further demonstrated Special Heli-Borne Operations (SHBO), including the deployment of commandos at the airstrip. Another set of ALHs showcased disaster relief and medical evacuation procedures, highlighting the ELF’s role in humanitarian and emergency response missions.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier described the event as the first “elaborate operational exercise” at an Emergency Landing Facility, with nearly 16 aircraft participating.
Developed at a cost of nearly ₹100 crore, the Moran ELF has been constructed in close coordination with the Indian Air Force and is expected to significantly enhance strategic mobility, disaster response, and regional security in the Northeast.
