Status: Not ApprovedHEAD: 24_Jai_VB_Vayu shakti rehearsal roars at pokhranByline: Vimal Bhatia### Title Vayu shakti rehearsal roars at pokhran, Tejas absent as drills intensifyJaisalmer, Vimal BhatiaThe Pokaran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer witnessed a full dress rehearsal for Vayu Shakti 2026 on Tuesday, ahead of the main event scheduled for 27 February. Fighter aircraft and helicopters of the Indian Air Force demonstrated precision strike capability by hitting enemy dummy positions with domestically manufactured ammunition, missiles and other equipment, sending up massive explosions and sand clouds across the range.HAL Tejas Mk-1 did not take part in the rehearsal following a recent technical incident on the ground at a forward fighter base. Sources said the Air Force has been carrying out safety checks across the Tejas fleet, and the aircraft therefore stayed away from the drills. In this context, the likelihood of Tejas participating in the main show on 27 February is also considered low, though it had earlier been listed among platforms to display strike capability.A major attraction was a drone show, introduced in Vayu Shakti for the first time. The display created a map of India, featured fireworks and showcased symbolic Air Force formations. It depicted key episodes including the bravery of Nirmaljit Singh at Sargodha in the 1965 war, the bombing on Tiger Hill during Kargil, the Balakot air strike and Operation Sindoor. The show also portrayed the interception of hostile attacks using S-400 and other air defence systems, and strikes on nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.The rehearsal featured fighters, helicopters, eight transport aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, counter-unmanned aerial systems and surface-to-air guided missile systems. Platforms included Rafale, Jaguar, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29, Hawk, C-130J, C-295, C-17, Chetak, ALH Mk-IV, Mi-17 IV, LCH, Apache and Chinook.In combat simulations, Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft targeted enemy runways and positions, including a sequence involving 44 bombs. A MiG-29 struck a tank convoy, while an Akash missile destroyed an aerial target. Night operations included a C-130 landing and extraction of Garud commandos, and an assault landing by a C-295. The main event will be attended by President Droupadi Murmu, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma also present. MSID:: 128757846 413 |
