IAF Exercise Vayu Shakti-24: Showcasing India's airpower and depth of indigenisation

IAF Exercise Vayu Shakti-24: Showcasing India’s airpower and depth of indigenisation

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is all set to conduct “Exercise Vayu Shakti-24” on 17 February, 2024, at the Pokhran air-to-ground range, near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. This normally triennial event was last held in February 2019. The 2022 edition was planned but cancelled due to the intensified Russia-Ukraine conflict. COVID-19 too had its dynamics. As always, the day and night exercise Vayu Shakti-24 is expected to be a fascinating demonstration of the offensive and defensive capabilities of the IAF. It is a showcase of IAF’s assets and combat equipment and the capabilities of the crew which is operating them. It will also demonstrate joint operations with the Indian Army. The 2024 exercise carries the tagline ‘lightning strike from the sky’. The President as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces and the Prime Minister are traditionally invited. Pokhran is known for its historical significance and provides a controlled environment.

Objectives of Vayu Shakti 2024

The major objectives of the exercise are to showcase IAF’s full-spectrum combat and operational capabilities.

~ Demonstrate the precision and effectiveness of air-to-ground and air-to-air attacks. Emphasise the seamless integration of diverse aircraft, including indigenous platforms like Tejas.

~ Highlight the coordination and collaboration with the Indian Army in joint military operations.

~ Display the latest technological advancements and weaponry employed by the IAF.

~ Demonstrate the IAF’s operational night attack and defence capabilities. Special operations by IAF’s transport and helicopter fleets will be on display.

The exercise will demonstrate the IAF’s proficiency in conducting operations from multiple air bases, showcasing the force’s flexibility and strategic reach. Increase public awareness about the IAF’s capabilities and its commitment to national defence. The exercise is meant to send a strong deterrent message to potential adversaries by showcasing the IAF’s precision, versatility and firepower. It acts as a demonstration of India’s capability and willingness to defend its interests with a robust and well-equipped air force.

Exercise details

This year, the exercise will see participation by 121 aircraft, including the indigenous Tejas, Prachand and Dhruv. Other participating aircraft, many for the first time, would include the Rafale, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Jaguar, Hawk, C-130J, Chinook, Apache and Mi-17. A C-17 aircraft will demonstrate drop for the first time. Indigenous surface-to-air weapon systems Akash and Samar will demonstrate their capability to track and shoot down an intruding aerial platform. IAF will demonstrate capability to deliver weapons at long range with precision, and with devastating effects. The weapon-laden aircraft and other platforms will take off from different airbases including Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Phalodi, Nal, Uttarlai and also Hindon and Agra, IAF briefed. The event will include Special Operations by the IAF transport and helicopter fleets, involving the Garuds and Indian Army elements. There will be a demonstration of an Indian Army M777 howitzer being airlifted into the exercise, and then fired.

The exercise will be display of IAF’s full spectrum of combat and fire capabilities in a “near-realistic scenario.” The Rafale fighter jets and Prachand and Apache attack helicopters will be among those platforms that will take part in the exercise for the first time. The demonstration would be around 2 hours and 15 minutes spread over day-light hours, dusk and night. IAF’s most potent platforms will drop around 40-50 tonnes of ordnance in a radius of less than two kilometres.

There will be a traditional sonic salute to the president by a Rafale fighter jet making a high-speed low-level run at over 1,300 km/h. A Jaguar with the Reccelite pod will film the Viewers Gallery. This picture will be framed and presented to the Chief Guest later during the event itself. Among the diverse range of weapon systems showcased would be accuracy of Precision-Guided Munitions (PGMs). Indigenous air-to-air missile will showcasing advanced missile technology for aerial engagements. MICA missile from Rafale and R-73 missiles will be fired from LCA Tejas. Variety of bombs will highlight the ordnance delivery capability and the devastating effect.

Air-to-ground rockets add velocity to the munitions and results in penetrative impact. There will be significant drone participation. There will be a demonstration of a short landing and troop insertion by a C130 on a short semi-prepared runway at the firing range. The spectators will get to see live-streamed demonstration of air-to-air refuelling and AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control System) aircraft control going on somewhere. The IACCS will serve as the backbone of the exercise, facilitating coordination and communication.

The night event is the military version of Diwali. One gets to see a barrage of salvo firing of 128 rockets leaving a Mi-17 in three seconds. They can obliterate any target on the Tactical Battle Area (TBA). When a stick of thousand pounder bombs drop, the visitor stand shakes. Similarly, a stick of 32×100 Kg bombs from a Su-30 MKI can be devastating.

A Mi-17 V5 escorted by two attack helicopters will be demonstrated a CSAR mission. During the dusk and night events, one would get to see the firing of infra-red flares by aircraft. Also on show will be the soft power, which includes Akash Ganga Sky Divers, and a Tri-services band.

Ground preparations

The practice firing range at Pokhran is prepared with a large number of dummy but realistic targets. The targets are laid out within the visual range of the viewing gallery stands. The targets include hardened shelters, simulated armour tanks, gun locations, fuel dumps, radar sites, and simulated runway, among many others. Structures are created to demonstrate urban warfare where demonstration by Special Forces will either slither down from helicopters or be para drop from transport aircraft. A UAV would fly at high altitude and would give a pictorial view of the targets which will be displayed to the spectators on large plasma screens next to the viewing gallery.  The UAV live-streamed video will also be seen during live firing. Binoculars will also be available for the very discerning viewers.

Surface-to-air weapons will be positioned close to the stands to demonstrate firing against airborne targets. There will also be a display of aerial missile firing against a target. A detailed briefing will be carried out before the demonstration begins so that spectators can make the best of the very fast-moving display. A running commentary will help timely visual contact with aircraft and the weapons. Flight and armament safety are closely monitored.

Why firepower demonstration

The first firepower demonstration exercise in India was done way back in 1954 at the Tipat range in Haryana, not far from New Delhi. The exercise was conducted there till 1989. It was moved away after the areas around got urbanised, and also there was increased bird activity endangering aircraft. Pokhran has been the venue for the Air Force Fire Power Demonstrations since then.

Air power demonstrations are meant to show case the air might of the country to its own people to give them confidence in the military power and its air assets, and level of training and precision.  It also showcases to the friends and adversaries the lethality of the fourth largest air force the world, and the deterrent signals that go with it. It is meant to reassure the sister armed forces and the government machinery that the IAF will deliver when the nation will call upon it.

Who all normally attend

The event is mostly witnessed by the government hierarchy led by the President and/or Prime Minister. The Defence Minister, along with the Chief of Air Staff, acts as the host. The Gandhinagar-based South Western Air Command organizes the entire event. The Rajasthan Governor and Chief Minister are also invited. A large number of Members of Parliament, some Cabinet Ministers, and members of the defence consultative committee attend. The defence and finance bureaucracy are invited. The CDS, Service Chiefs, and officers from the other two armed forces will attend. There will also be officers from DRDO, Defence PSUs, and para-military organizations. Also invited are the diplomats of friendly foreign countries, especially the defence attaches. Student officers from major defence training establishments are flown in for the event. There are members of strategic think tanks. The media is present in large numbers. Between the day and night events, there will also be a short ‘networking break,’ refreshments, and time to rub shoulders with those who matter. There was a full-firepower rehearsal on 15 February, where a large number were invited to reduce the vehicular and administrative load on the final day and yet expose much larger numbers to the event.

Since a large number of important people attend the main event, IAF creates a significant air defence umbrella for possible misadventure by any adversary. Ground security and anti-drone measures are also put in place.

More air power action ahead

IAF has done record-breaking bilateral and multi-lateral international exercises in the last two years. The Vayu Shakti is the first of the series of major exercises planned by IAF in India this year. The largest-of-its-kind pan-India “Exercise Gagan Shakti” is planned for later in the year. This will have significant participation of the Indian Army and Navy and also civil radars and other agencies will be activated. There are reports that the S-400 (Sudarshan) air defence system may be activated in this exercise. The multi-nation global “Exercise Tarang Shakti”, is expected to bring together 12 friendly air forces. IAF is becoming an air force with global reach and long-range precision strike capability. May it keep ‘Touching the Sky with Glory’.

The writer is Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.

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