The Indian Air Force will showcase its full range of combat and firepower capabilities during the Vayu Shakti-2024 exercise to be held on February 17 at the Pokharan Range near the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan. Rafale fighter jets, Prachand Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Apache attack helicopters will be among the assets participating in the exercise for the first time, Air Vice Chief of Staff Air Marshal Apu Singh told reporters here.
He said the exercise, which is held every three years, will be conducted during the day, dusk and night and last for 2.15 hours. “We plan to hold Exercise Vayu Shakti 2024 to showcase the full range of operations that India’s aerospace power can undertake. Moreover, it will be conducted in near-realistic scenarios,” Air Marshal Singh said.
He said more than 100 aircraft will participate in the exercise this year, including support aircraft and ground backup aircraft. This includes all new indigenously manufactured or designed aircraft such as Tejas, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, Prachand, and other fleet aircraft such as Rafale, Jaguar, Mirage -2000″, “Su-30 MKI”, MiG-29 and Hawk.
“Obviously there will be some changes so that people who come to visit can see things. So you may see changes in how you actually shoot. “But what we want to make sure is that we’re not just practicing and showing our The capabilities of the assets and equipment, as well as the crews operating them, we are also demonstrating how tasks can be undertaken in a coordinated manner within a short period of time – the frame is capable of delivering nearly 40-50 tons of ammunition within a radius of 1.5 kilometers. This is something that will be showcased there,” he said. The first fire power demonstration exercise was conducted at Tippat Range in Haryana back in 1954. The exercise was conducted there till 1989. The Vice Chief of Air Staff said , thereafter the exercise was shifted to Pokharan in view of the logistical requirements, constraints of the Indian Air Force and increased bird activity in Tilpat.
The slogan for the 2024 exercise is “Lightning from the Sky” (derived from the translation of a Sanskrit phrase). “It will demonstrate air-to-air refueling somewhere, AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) control somewhere, and tracking all formations. All exercises will be conducted in an integrated command and control environment,” he added .
The exercise will be conducted under the South West Air Command (SWAC), Gandhinagar. A senior Indian Air Force official said the purpose of the event was to highlight the operational readiness of the Indian Air Force and its determination and strength in ensuring national security while instilling a “sense of pride” in the people. It will showcase modern and traditional platforms as well as indigenous LCH, ALH and other assets, he said, adding that school children will also be invited.
When asked which assets will participate in the triennial exercise for the first time, Air Marshal Singh said: “Rafale is participating (for the first time) as it was not with us before. Prachand will participate for the first time. Rudra will Launching two weapons, it previously launched one weapon. The C17 aircraft will be airdropped for the first time. In addition, the Apache will also participate for the first time.” Surface-to-air platforms will also be on display for the first time. Some previously undeployed radars will also be involved, but not directly, he said. After the ‘Vayu Shakti-2019’ exercise, the next exercise is planned to be held in 2022. However, the exercise failed to take place in 2022, a year when the conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensified.
C17 and C130 transport aircraft, Chinook and Apache helicopters will participate in practical demonstrations. Air Marshal Singh said that apart from the Avro, the AN-32s in the early exercises will also play a supporting role. The exercise will have air-to-air, air-to-ground, unguided weapons, guided weapons, long-range weapons, but they will be delivered at short range.
“We will also use surface-to-air weapons to shoot at air targets. We have included the Army in the exercise and their guns will be airlifted (and then fired),” he said. Officials said it demonstrated “our capabilities at any time and in any weather.”
Senior IAF officials said the exercise also emphasized weapons delivery and its precision delivery and showed that “different wings and the Indian Air Force’s own wings can work in coordination”. In response to inquiries, he said that the navy will play a back-end control and integrated command and control role, but there will be no weapons involvement from the navy.
Various missiles using the Rafale and Tejas platforms will also be showcased, officials said, adding that the Akash will also be launched during the exercise. When asked if NOTAMs (notices to airmen) have been issued, Air Marshal Singh said that NOTAMs are standard procedure and have been issued and the exercises will begin from Saturday. Neighboring countries would also be informed of any exercises, he said. He said the aircraft would take off from bases in Jodhpur, Jaisalom, Falodi, Nal, Utale and Hindon and Agra.
Asked whether drones would be involved, he said, “They would be.” “Play a supporting role.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)
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