The Swiss Air Force turned the motorway in the eastern part of the country into a runway for fighter jets on Wednesday and was back to normal in 24 hours. This event was done to test the combat aircraft’s ability to land in various locations, as the vehicle is supposed to be used in rough terrain to maintain Switzerland’s air sovereignty amidst the rising security concerns in Europe.
Geographic location of the motorway used as airtrack
The Swiss Air Force, the national air force of Switzerland, is responsible for protecting air sovereignty, air safety, and air transport in Switzerland. On June 6th, a motorway in the western part of Switzerland was converted into a runway where fighter jets bought from the USA were tested. The purpose was to evaluate their capability to land in different and rough terrains.
Alain von Bueren, the first pilot who landed on the motorway, said that it went well.
The Swiss government conducted the test on motorways instead of airways because their air force assets in Payerne, Meiringen, and Emmen are vulnerable to long-range attacks. To avoid such threats, the Swiss government relies on moving their air assets to temporary locations, including motorways. Decentralization of assets is crucial, given the worsening security situation in Europe, allowing assets to be placed anywhere at any time.
A road being used as an airtrack
Such an exercise hadn’t occurred for over 30 years. Aviation runways are vulnerable to bombings, and without regular exercises, the sovereignty and security of Switzerland’s airspace could be jeopardized. The section of the highway used is near the airport of Payerne. It is a designated part of the road, demonstrating that Swiss motorways can serve as runways due to the country’s mountainous terrain and limited flat land. If aviation facilities are bombed, there’s a high risk to air security.
This is the first time that Switzerland has landed on the autobahn since 1991. Later this month, Switzerland will host an event aimed at creating peace in the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been ongoing for over two years.