IAF identifies highway stretches for landing of aircraft

The Indian Air Force has identified certain highways stretches to be used as landing strips for aircraft operation during operational contingencies, the government told the Lok Sabha today.
Replying to a question, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said a generic plan in this regard was sent to the road transport and highways ministry.
Bhamre, however, did not share the details of the stretches in the highways identified as landing strips during operational contingencies and natural disasters.
To a separate question, he said there is no immediate proposal with the government to procure F-16 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force.

In August last year, US defence major Lockheed Martin had offered to move its lone production line of the latest version of F 16-Block 70 to India from Texas to meet Indian and global requirement.
However, the company had made it clear the proposal is "conditional" to Indian Air Force choosing the world s largest-sold fighter aircraft for its fleet.

In India, Lockheed Martin has joint venture company with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).
In response to another question, Bhamre said the Indian Navy has adequate number of mine counter measure vessels (MCMVs)to protect the country's maritime zone.
He said the government has further granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procurement of more number of MCMVs to ensure that the operational requirements of the Navy.