Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 22 (ANI): The Indian Air Force in a first ever display of its precision strike capability by night, will conduct a mammoth fire power demonstration (FPD), codenamed ‘Vayu Shakti-2010′ at the sprawling Chandan Air-to-Air Range, Pokhran on February 28 showcasing the operational capabilities of IAF by day, dusk and night.

The fire power demonstration will demonstrate the day and night employability of air force 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 4 and Mi-35 attack helicopters will constitute the rotary wing ingredients.

For the first time Airborne Warning and Control System (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 aircrafts 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 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 IAF skydiving team-Akash Ganga and renditions by IAF Symphonic Orchestra.

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