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The indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1 may not participate in the Indian Air Force’s upcoming firepower demonstration, Exercise Vayushakti-26, scheduled to be held on February 27 at the Pokhran Air-to-Ground Range in Jaisalmer.
The exercise, organised by the Indian Air Force, is designed to demonstrate the service’s ability to deliver rapid and decisive air power, dominate the operational environment from the outset, and convert tactical actions into strategic effects during combat scenarios.
Earlier, the Defence Ministry had announced that the event would feature full-spectrum operations involving fighter aircraft, transport platforms and helicopters, including Rafale, Jaguar, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-29, Hawk, C-130J, C-295 and C-17 aircraft, along with helicopters such as the Chetak, ALH Mk-IV, Mi-17 IV, LCH, Apache and Chinook, as well as remotely piloted aircraft.
However, reports suggest that the LCA Tejas Mk-1 could be absent from the exercise. The development follows an incident on February 7, when a Tejas aircraft overshot the runway at a frontline airbase and sustained damage. The aircraft’s manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), had described the episode as a minor technical incident on the ground and clarified that it did not involve a crash.
According to sources, the IAF is conducting safety checks across the Tejas fleet after the incident. HAL had said the matter was being analysed as part of standard operating procedures and that the company was working closely with the IAF to resolve the issue.
The aircraft was also reportedly absent from the full-dress rehearsal held in the Thar desert ahead of the main demonstration, and may not take part in the event itself.
President Droupadi Murmu will attend the exercise and will feature a range of advanced weapon systems, including short-range loitering munitions, the Akash and SpyDer air defence systems, and counter-unmanned aerial systems. Missions are planned during day, dusk and night phases to simulate varied operational conditions.
The Defence Ministry has said the event will also highlight the success of Operation Sindoor and underscore the IAF’s role in airspace dominance, long-range precision targeting and multi-domain operations, reaffirming its position as a key pillar of India’s national security architecture.
Ravi Shankar
Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.
