IAF showcases lethal precision in ‘Vayu Shakti’ Exercise at Pokharan

The Indian Air Force (IAF) showcased its combat capabilities and operational readiness on Friday during Exercise ‘Vayu Shakti’ at the Pokharan Field Firing Range in the Thar desert, near the India-Pakistan border. The demonstration highlighted missions carried out during Operation Sindoor through day-dusk-night simulated strikes.

President Droupadi Murmu , along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh , Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade , and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat , attended the exercise. The event began with a presentation on Operation Sindoor, followed by a display of day target layouts spread across a three-kilometre area , including enemy runways, bunkers, radar sites, communication centres, tanks, ammunition storage, hangars, petroleum facilities, and terror camps.

Jaguar and Mirage fighter jets carried out coordinated strikes on designated targets, while a Sukhoi aircraft engaged a simulated terror camp. HAL Light Combat Helicopter Prachand demonstrated agile precision strikes, and Apache attack helicopters and Mi-17 V5s executed multi-platform operations. Decoy missions, loitering patterns, radar neutralisation, and rapid fighter deployment further showcased the IAF’s strategic capabilities.

Chinook helicopters deployed howitzer guns at operational locations, underscoring the integration of air and artillery assets. The exercise demonstrated the IAF’s ability to conduct precision strikes, controlled escalation, and multi-domain operations in near-realistic combat scenarios.

‘Vayu Shakti’ reaffirmed the IAF’s preparedness to respond effectively to evolving threats along India’s western frontier.