IAF to showcase Operation Sindoor Success: Rafale, Su-30, Tejas to Feature in Vayu Shakti at Pokhran

By
Ravi Shankar
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0
VCAS
Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor addressing media

The Indian Air Force will field over 120 aircraft at Exercise Vayu Shakti in Pokhran on February 27, with frontline fighters such as Rafale, Su-30MKI and LCA Tejas set to demonstrate combat capability near the India-Pakistan border.

Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor said this edition of the biennial firepower exercise carries added significance as it follows last year’s Operation Sindoor.

While long-range targeting will not be displayed at the Pokhran range, he said the impact of precision strikes on ground targets will be demonstrated. “We will do our demonstration. What message will go out to anyone… it is up to you to decide,” he remarked.

In a statement, the Defence Ministry described the IAF as the “first, fastest and fiercest responder”, capable of rapidly punishing the enemy and shaping the course of operations from the outset. It said the exercise would underline the force’s ability to convert tactical actions into strategic outcomes.

The drill will showcase the IAF’s full operational spectrum — from air dominance missions to transport and humanitarian tasks. Fighter, transport, and helicopter platforms, including Tejas, Rafale, Jaguar, Mirage-2000, Su-30MKI, MiG-29, Hawk, C-130J, C-17, C-295, Apache, Chinook, ALH Mk-IV, Mi-17 IV, and Light Combat Helicopter, will participate. Remotely Piloted Aircraft will also be part of the display.

More than 120 air assets, including 77 fighter aircraft and eight transport planes, will take part. The C-295 transport aircraft will make its debut at the exercise and demonstrate night operations capability.

Advanced weapon systems such as short-range loitering munitions, Akash and SpyDer surface-to-air missiles, and counter-unmanned aerial systems will be showcased. The exercise will feature day, dusk and night missions.

According to IAF officers, around 12,000 kg of explosives will be expended during the event. In all, 43 events involving 23 aerial and ground targets will be executed over approximately two hours and 35 minutes.

The drill will also involve integrated operations with the Indian Army. M-777 ultra-light howitzers, L-70 guns and Special Forces troops will participate in joint missions.

The ministry said Vayu Shakti would highlight the success of Operation Sindoor and reaffirm the IAF’s role in airspace dominance, precision targeting and multi-domain operations, including the use of indigenous platforms under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. The exercise will also present glimpses of the IAF’s role in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, including rapid airlift and evacuation missions.

On future acquisitions, Air Marshal Kapoor said the IAF was keen to induct more new-generation fighter aircraft. “The IAF is looking forward to inducting a lot more of newer-generation aircraft in its inventory, and the sooner, the better,” he said.

Referring to Operation Sindoor, he noted that the Rafale had been “a hero, among other heroes”. Regarding the proposed multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) programme, he said a decision on whether to select Rafale or another platform has not yet been taken.

His remarks come amid indications that the Defence Acquisition Council will consider a proposal for 114 multi-role fighters. Swedish firm Saab has also pitched its Gripen E for the requirement, stating it could complement the Rafale and Tejas fleets in service.

Team BharatShakti

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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.

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