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The Indian Air Force left the sky of Pokhran smoky and lit up with a mega exercise ‘Vayu Shakti 2019’ on Saturday involving several fighter jets and attack helicopters in a ‘fire’ demonstration.
The mega demonstration was kicked off two days after Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir where at least 45 CRPF personnel were killed by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Facebook/IAF
The exercise involved a total of 137 aircraft including Su-30s, Mirage 2000s, Jaguars, Mig-21 Bison, Mig-27, Mig-29, IL78, Hercules, and AN-32.
Facebook/IAF
The Vayu Shakti exercise demonstrated power of indigenously developed aircraft including Light Combat Aircraft the efficacy of the Akash surface-to-air missile and Astra air-to-air missile.
Facebook/iaf
Many simulated enemy targets on the ground and in the air were targeted and destroyed through a variety of missiles during the Fire Power Display.
Facebook/IAF
The day-and-night power demo featured the ALH and the Akash which were deployed for the first time in a military exercise.
Reuters
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar — who is an honorary group captain of the IAF along with Armed Forces Tribunal, Justice Virender Singh were present at the mega exercise.