IAF conducts dress rehearsal ahead of ‘Vayu Shakti-2010′

POKHRAN - The Indian Air Force has conducted dress rehearsal and displayed mammoth firepower demonstration (FPD) ahead of the ‘Vayu Shakti-2010′ at the Chandan Air-to-Air Range at Pokhran in Rajasthan.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday night, South and Western Air Chief P.S. Prabhu said that through the operation the IAF wanted to show its preparedness.

“One should be fully prepared for the war be it during night or day. We wanted to exhibit our fire power for the general public so that they are aware of it. We are also showing it through your (the media) medium to the country,” Prabhu said.

The FPD displayed the day and night employability of the IAF by frontline fighter aircrafts, including Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, Mig-21 and Mig-29.

The transport aircrafts included AN-32, Embraer and IL-76, while Mi-17 and Mi-35 attack helicopters will constitute the rotary wing ingredients.

For the first time Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) were used to monitor the mammoth exercise. 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 aircrafts in air and an equal number on ground will make it one of the biggest participation by the IAF aircrafts in any such FPD ever.

Mock radar sites, tanks, marshalling yards, terrorist camps, runway, BMP (infantry fighting vehicles), blast pens and convoys are among the targets that pilots will seek to destroy.

Para-drop and troop insertion of Guard- IAF’s Special Forces to neutralize a terrorist camp will also be on display.

The other attractions will include aerobatics display by Surya Kirans and Sarang, display by the IAF skydiving team-Akash Ganga and renditions by Symphonic Orchestra.

The FPD is a collective display of skills and accuracy in weapon delivery by pilots at the end of their training year, and the exercise also aids commanders and planners to a better insight into the potential and deployment capabilities of aerial weapons. (ANI)