Air force practices take-offs and landings on the A1 highway in early June
Published: Thursday, May 23rd 2024, 04:50
Updated At: Thursday, May 23rd 2024, 05:00
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At the beginning of June, F/A-18 fighter jets will land and take off on the A1 highway between Payerne and Avenches in the canton of Vaud. This exercise will take place on June 5. However, there are no more free spots for spotters; the area will be cordoned off on a large scale.
Specifically, it is the "Alpha Uno" exercise, as the Department of Defense (DDPS) writes on the Internet. The air force currently has three jet airfields, namely in Payerne, Emmen LU and Meiringen in the Bernese Oberland. This concentration in just a few locations makes them susceptible and vulnerable.
At the end of January, the Federal Council approved the closure of the A1 for the exercise with F/A-18 jets. The aim of the exercise is to test and expand decentralization capabilities. Decentralization refers to the ability to distribute people and their equipment throughout the country in the shortest possible time.
Refueling on the highway
The air force wants to check whether its fighter planes can also be used from improvised locations - such as highways - and can take off and land there. One reason for this is the deteriorating security situation in Europe - the army wants to strengthen its defense capabilities.
After landing on the highway, the F/A-18 jets are prepared for take-off. This also includes refueling the aircraft, army spokesman Mathias Volken told the Keystone-SDA news agency. The spokesman did not reveal how many members of the armed forces were involved, citing operational safety.
The highway section is converted into a runway for the exercise. Among other things, the central crash barrier has to be removed. And for reasons of flight safety, special markings are required on the roadway, as Volken explained.
This work will be carried out by members of the army, civilian employees of the Federal Roads Office (Astra) and the cantonal police forces of the affected cantons of Vaud and Fribourg. After the exercise, the crash barriers will be reinstalled and the road markings removed.
Remembrance of the Cold War
This exercise is not a first for the air force. Similar tests on national roads were carried out a total of ten times during the Cold War, as Volken said.
The first took place in 1970 between Oensingen SO and Härkingen SO. Other exercises were subsequently held at Flums SG, Alpnach OW and Münsingen BE. The last exercise to date was carried out by the Air Force in 1991 near Lodrino TI.
According to army spokesman Volken, the section of highway near Payerne was already prepared for fighter jet exercises in 1995 during construction. It is also suitable due to the volume of traffic, the possibility of setting up bypasses and the direct connection to the Payerne military airfield.
The airspace above the test site is also monitored as standard by the air traffic control service within the control zone of the military airfield. For safety reasons, it is not permitted to fly drones there.
Not a public event
For the exercise with the fighter jets, the A1 in Vaud between Payerne and Avenches will be closed for a maximum of 36 hours, from June 4 at 21:00 to June 6 at 06:00. Traffic will be diverted via the cantonal road network. The training area will be cordoned off on a large scale, said Volken.
It will therefore be difficult for spotters to follow the landings and take-offs on site. The exercise is not a public event, writes the DDPS, but a military review. The seats for spectators have already been allocated. Photos and videos will be made available by the army. There will be a live broadcast on SRF radio and television on the morning of June 5.
https://www.vtg.admin.ch/de/alpha-uno
©Keystone/SDA
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