On February 17 in Pokhran, Rajasthan, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct the 2024 Vayu Shakti exercise, showcasing its full range of weaponry. The event will showcase all frontline aircraft, such as the Prachand attack choppers and Rafale fighter jets.
The exercise will involve all frontline aircraft, including the Prachand attack choppers and Rafale fighter jets. Air Marshal AP Singh, the Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS), stated in Delhi on Friday that we will also be airlifting Army guns as part of the exercise.
All of the main fighter aircraft, including the Su-30MKI, LCA Tejas, Mirage 2000, and MIG-29, will demonstrate their firepower by firing missiles and bombs at predetermined targets during this year’s Vayu Shakti exercise. The exercise will involve 41 helicopters, five transport aircraft, and 77 fighter planes.
Air-to-ground, air-to-air, and surface-to-air weaponry will also be demonstrated.
The Vice Chief Air Marshal added that the ALH Dhruv, Pranchand attack helicopters, and LCA Tejas, all made in India, will be participating. We would be dropping 40–50 tons of ordnance in a radius of 1-2 km in a matter of two hours, he continued.
During the exercise, the Ultra Light Howitzer will be demonstrated by an underslung Chinook helicopter, and the Army will fire weapons from Rudra choppers.
This is the first time the IAF, which has been conducting this exercise since 1954, will use the Samar surface-to-air weapon system, Prachand choppers, and Rafale fighter jets.
The Vice Chief Air Marshal further stated that air-to-air missiles, such as the R-73 and MICA missiles from Rafale, will be fired from the LCA Tejas.
On February 17, Vice Chief of Air Force Air Marshal A.P. Singh announced that the India Air Force (IAF) will showcase its entire range of combat and fire capabilities at the Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan as part of Exercise Vayu Shakti-2024. This is a “near-realistic scenario.” Among the platforms that will participate in the exercise for the first time are Prachand and Apache attack helicopters, as well as Rafale fighter jets, he said.
According to him, the workout will last for two hours and fifteen minutes during the day, at dusk, and at night. Exercise Vayu Shakti was last conducted on February 16, 2019. According to officials, the exercise will also highlight cooperation with the Indian Army.
This year, 121 aircraft, including the native Tejas, Prachand, and Dhruv, will take part in the exercise. The Rafale, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Jaguar fighter, Hwak advanced jet trainers, C-130J transport aircraft, Chinook, Apache, and Mi-17 helicopters are among the other aircraft that will be involved. According to the IAF indigenous surface-to-air weapon system, Akash and Samar will show off their ability to locate and down an unauthorized aircraft.
According to the IAF, indigenous surface-to-air weapon systems Akash and Samar will show off their ability to locate and down an unauthorized aircraft.
