The Indian Army conducted a helicopter operations exercise on a stretch of National Highway 911 (NH-911) near Dantour in Rajasthan on September 29, demonstrating the ability of its aviation units to operate from roads when conventional airfields or helipads are unavailable.
During the exercise, Rudra, Dhruv and Chetak helicopters from the Army’s Sapta Shakti Command landed on and took off from a designated section of the highway. The drill involved aircrew practising approach and departure procedures while ground teams coordinated helicopter movements at the temporary landing site.
The exercise was conducted in Rajasthan’s western desert region, close to the India-Pakistan border. The location provided an operational environment for the Army to practise helicopter movements from an alternative landing facility rather than relying exclusively on established aviation infrastructure.
According to the Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information, the exercise demonstrated the operational agility of the Rudra, Dhruv and Chetak helicopters and highlighted the military utility of dual-use infrastructure. The Army said the activity focused on rapid response, situational awareness and versatility in support of enhanced operational readiness.
The Dhruv is an indigenously designed twin-engine Advanced Light Helicopter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Its armed variant, the Rudra, is used for missions including reconnaissance, escort and fire support. The Chetak, also manufactured by HAL in India, is based on the French Alouette III helicopter design and is produced under licence.
Using sections of highways as temporary landing facilities can provide military aviation units with additional operating options in situations where dedicated airfields, helipads or other conventional facilities may not be available. The ability to operate from alternative locations also requires coordination between pilots and ground personnel, along with careful planning of landing and take-off procedures.
The NH-911 exercise also coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Indian Army’s 2016 surgical strikes across the Line of Control. Those strikes followed the September 18, 2016, terrorist attack on an Army camp in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 19 soldiers were killed.
The latest drill near Dantour highlights the Army’s continued focus on maintaining aviation flexibility in challenging environments. By practising operations from a highway close to the western border, Army Aviation units demonstrated procedures for using alternative landing areas while strengthening coordination between air and ground teams.