A mammoth fire power demonstration (FPD), code named Vayu Shakti-2010, showcasing the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF) by day, dusk and night will be held at the sprawling Chandan Air-to-Ground Range, Pokharan on February 28, 2010. This event will be the first ever display of IAF’s precision strike capability by night.
Vayu Shakti-2010 will demonstrate the day and night employability of air power by frontline fighter aircraft of the IAF including Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, Mig-21 and Mig-29. The transport aircraft include AN-32, Embraer and IL-76, while Mi-17 1V and Mi-35 attack helicopters will constitute the rotary wing ingredients.
For the first time AWACS will be used to monitor the mammoth exercise while an unmanned aerial vehicle will stream live video images of the target destruction. In addition to the 65 aircraft participating from all IAF Commands, 30 standby aircraft in air and an equal number on ground will make it one of the biggest participation by IAF aircraft in any such FPD ever.
Mock radar sites, tanks, marshalling yards, terrorist camps, runway, BMP (infantry fighting vehicles), blast pens and convoys are among few of the targets that pilots will seek to destroy. Para-drop and troop insertion of Garud - IAF’s Special Forces to neutralize a terrorist camp will also be on display. The other attractions of Vayu Shakti-2010 will include aerobatics display by Surya Kirans and Sarang, display by IAF sky diving team - Akash Ganga and renditions by IAF Symphonic Orchestra.