Indian Air Force conducted a grand rehearsal of Exercise Vayu Shakti–2026 at the Pokhran Field Firing Range near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan—close to the India–Pakistan border. The large-scale firepower demonstration highlighted modern combat capability, precision strike power, and integrated multi-domain operations in a near-realistic desert battlefield.
Aim of Exercise
- Demonstrate capability for swift and precise strikes in simulated wartime conditions.
- Showcase operational preparedness, calibrated escalation, and multi-platform integration.
- Validate day and night combat readiness under near-battlefield scenarios.
Platforms & Systems Deployed
Fighter Aircraft
- Rafale
- Sukhoi Su-30MKI
- HAL Tejas
- Mirage 2000
- Jaguar (strike role)
Helicopters
- AH-64 Apache
- CH-47 Chinook
- HAL Prachand
- Mi-17 V5
Air Defence & Missiles
- Akash missile system (SAM firing demonstration)
Transport & Special Ops
- C-130J Super Hercules (assault landing & casualty evacuation)
- C-295 (reinforcements induction)
- Garud Commando Force & 10 Para SF (hostage rescue)
Simulated Targets & Combat Tasks
Targets engaged included:
- Enemy runway
- Petroleum storage facility
- Bunkers & radar sites
- Tank & armoured convoys
- Communication centre
- Terror camp
- Ammunition storage
- Hangar & Command-and-Control centre
Key Demonstrations
- Precision air-to-ground strikes using guided bombs and missiles.
- Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD/DEAD) to neutralise hostile radars.
- Coordinated Jaguar–Mirage simultaneous strikes, echoing patterns seen during Operation Sindoor.
- Sukhoi Su-30MKI strike on a simulated terror camp.
- Decoy and loitering missions to “blind” enemy surveillance by neutralising radar clusters.
- Engagement of a simulated airborne target.
Integrated & Night Operations
- Low-altitude rocket and gun firing by Apaches.
- Chinooks deployed howitzer guns to forward locations.
- Night precision strikes in low visibility, proving 24×7 readiness.
- Network-centric operations with drones and advanced radar for target identification and calibrated destruction.
Special Operations & HADR
- Hostage rescue: Garud and 10 Para (SF) slithered from a Mi-17, secured a structure, neutralised threats, and rescued hostages.
- Deployment of mobile field hospital ‘Bhishm’ for simulated casualties (HADR role).
- C-130J assault landing for evacuation; C-295 inducted reinforcements.
Culmination: Drone Show
Illuminated drones formed symbolic visuals including:
- Map of India
- SU-30 silhouette
- S-400 system depiction
- Locations of terror camps destroyed in Operation Sindoor
- Parliament of India
- IAF crest
Significance
- Demonstrated air superiority, ground support, and logistics integration.
- Validated rapid deployment and calibrated escalation capabilities.
- Showcased indigenous systems (Tejas, Prachand, Akash).
- Reinforced preparedness in the Western desert sector.
- Sent a clear message of vigilance and readiness to safeguard national airspace.