Mar 5, 2010

Vayu Shakti – The First Fire PowerDemonstration at Night

            In a first ever display of itsprecision strike capability by night, a mammoth fire power demonstration (FPD),codenamed ‘Vayu Shakti-2010’, showcased the operational capabilities of IAF byday, dusk and night at the sprawling Chandan Air-to-Ground Range, Pokharan onFebruary 28. The FPD demonstrated the day and night employability of air powerby frontline fighter aircraft of the IAF including Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000,Jaguar, Mig-21 and Mig-29. The transport aircraft included AN-32, Embraer andIL-76, while Mi-17 1V and Mi-35 attack helicopters constituted the rotary wingingredients. For the first time AWACS were used to monitor the exercise whilean unmanned aerial vehicle will stream live video images of the targetdestruction. In addition to the 70 aircraft participating from all IAFCommands, 30 standby aircraft in air and an equal number on ground were made.

            Mock radar sites, tanks, marshallingyards, terrorist camps, runway, BMP (infantry fighting vehicles), blast pensand convoys are among few of the targets the pilots destroyed. Para-drop andtroop insertion of Garud - IAF’s Special Forces to neutralize a terrorist campwere also on display. Along with the Surya Kiran and the Sarang aerobaticdisplay teams, the Sukhoi-30s also performed aerial stunts. Russian-originMi-35 attack helicopters, Mi-17 medium lift helicopters, IL-76 heavy lift andAN-32 medium lift transport plane also flew over the venue for theday-and-night air drop for specialised operations.

             Defence Minister A.K. Antony emphasized thatthe air power demonstration by the Indian Air Force (IAF) was not aimed at anycountry.  “It was not aimed at anycountry and no message was sought to be sent," Antonytold reporters," The exercise was not meant for sending signals. It wasonly meant to show the capability of our armed forces," Antonyadded.

Theincrease in the frequency of exercises as Vayu Shakti would certainly add tothe operational efficiency of the Indian Air Force besides indicating a highlevel of preparedness. The overall conduct was certainly impressive as percertain observers however what is also to be noted is the high level of synergythat has been achieved between various types of helicopters and aircraft thoughthe AWACS was not used to monitor and control the sorties, there would havebeen some mock runs that would have facilitated the same. The role of the AWACSwould be all the more important in the days ahead and level of its integrationwith the participating aircraft would have indicated how this would bematuring.

MARCH 2010