JAISALMER: The Pokhran Field Firing Range reverberated on Tuesday with the thunderous firepower of the Indian Air Force (IAF). During a spectacular day-and-night display, the IAF showcased its combat capability, sending a strong strategic message to adversaries and reaffirming its status as one of the world’s leading air forces. Explosions lit up the desert sky and echoed across the range.The demonstration was a full dress rehearsal for the main event of Vayu Shakti 2026, scheduled for 27 February.Fighter jets and helicopters carried out precision strikes on simulated enemy targets using indigenously manufactured ammunition, missiles and advanced weapon systems. The display filled the range with deafening blasts and towering clouds of sand.However, following a recent technical incident at a forward fighter base, the HAL Tejas Mk-1 did not take part in Tuesday’s rehearsal and is unlikely to feature in the main event. The aircraft had earlier been listed among the platforms set to demonstrate the IAF’s strike capabilities. Sources said that after the 7 February incident, the IAF began safety inspections of its Tejas fleet, leading to its probable absence from the exercise.A major highlight of the rehearsal was a grand drone show, included for the first time in Vayu Shakti. The drones formed the map of India in the sky, displayed fireworks and depicted symbolic aircraft formations.The show also portrayed historic moments, including the bravery of Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon during the 1971 war at Sargodha, the bombing of Tiger Hill during the Kargil War, the Balakot airstrike and Operation Sindoor. It demonstrated how India’s air defence systems, including the S-400, thwarted enemy aerial attacks and neutralised nine terrorist camps during Operation Sindoor.The chief guest at the rehearsal was Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, along with Air Marshal Tejendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Air Command. Senior officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force, defence and air attachés from friendly foreign nations, and many schoolchildren were also present.The main Vayu Shakti event on 27 February at Pokhran will be attended by President Droupadi Murmu as chief guest. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, the chiefs of the three services, and several foreign defence and air attachés are expected to attend.Participating platforms included the Dassault Rafale, SEPECAT Jaguar, Dassault Mirage 2000, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, MiG-29, BAE Hawk, Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules, Airbus C-295, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, HAL Chetak, HAL Dhruv Mk IV, Mil Mi-17, HAL Light Combat Helicopter, Boeing AH-64 Apache and Boeing CH-47 Chinook, among others.The rehearsal began with a supersonic boom by a Rafale flying at around 1,300 km/h, shaking the range. This was followed by precision strikes on simulated targets. Su-30MKI aircraft struck enemy runways and positions, while MiG-29 jets targeted armoured columns. As bombs hit their targets, large dust clouds rose across the desert. The indigenous Akash missile system intercepted aerial targets mid-air.For the first time, a C-130 aircraft carried out a night landing on a temporary runway, deploying and retrieving Garud commandos. The C-295 performed an assault landing, while Prachand helicopters joined operations in the simulated war zone. Two Jaguar aircraft demonstrated the Sudarshan formation while approaching their targets.The exercise highlighted the IAF’s operational readiness, long-range precision strike capability, joint special operations with the Indian Army and integrated air defence operations across multiple airbases, reinforcing its ability to detect, track and neutralise hostile aircraft attempting to breach Indian airspace.
