1 March : Showcasing its precision strike capabilities during day and night, Indian Air Force on Sunday carried out a massive fire power blitzkrieg using its frontline aircraft such as SU-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, MIG 27 and MIG 29, at the Pokhran ranges in Rajasthan.
The high-voltage exercise ‘Vayu Shakti’, witnessed by President Pratibha Patil, Defence Minister A K Antony and a host of foreign dignitaries, showcased massive bombing, aerial dog fight and day-night air drop of commandos in the Thar desert.
In the two-hour event, 100 combat, reconnaissance, transport and rotary wing aircraft took part in the massive Fire Power Demonstration (FPD) by the worlds fourth-largest air force and displayed the day and night employability of air power by frontline fighter aircraft.
Speaking on the occasion, South Western Air Command Chief Air Marshall P S Bhangu said the demonstration was being carried out after six years and the plan was to hold it more frequently.
Despite Saturday’s crash-landing at Jaisalmer, the Sarang team performed with its ALH Dhruv helicopters.
A chopper of the team had crash-landed due to loss of power in flight yesterday while rehearsing for the show.
Along with Surya Kiran and Sarang aerobatic display teams, the Sukhoi-30s also performed aerial stunts.