{"id":6846,"date":"2024-02-12T15:27:26","date_gmt":"2024-02-12T09:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/?p=6846"},"modified":"2025-01-04T14:50:39","modified_gmt":"2025-01-04T09:20:39","slug":"lightning-strike-from-the-sky-ex-vayushakti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/2024\/02\/12\/lightning-strike-from-the-sky-ex-vayushakti\/","title":{"rendered":"438: LIGHTNING STRIKE FROM THE SKY:\u00a0 EX VAYUSHAKTI"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6849\" src=\"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/compressed_img-teSRdcamtLyOoiruWnlDjJEI-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1792\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/compressed_img-teSRdcamtLyOoiruWnlDjJEI-1.jpg 1792w, https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/compressed_img-teSRdcamtLyOoiruWnlDjJEI-1-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/compressed_img-teSRdcamtLyOoiruWnlDjJEI-1-1024x585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/compressed_img-teSRdcamtLyOoiruWnlDjJEI-1-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/compressed_img-teSRdcamtLyOoiruWnlDjJEI-1-1536x878.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Pic Courtesy: Internet<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000080;\">Five years back on 14 Feb 2019, I was in Jaisalmer to review the preparations for Exercise Vayu Shakti 2019, when a terrorist attack took place at Pulwama. On 26 Feb 2019, IAF struck Jaish-e-Mohammed\u2019s (JeM) biggest camp in Pakistan. During the twelve days, while the preparation and coordination were in progress the IAF carried out business as usual. Even the exercise Vayu Shakti went through as planned.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800080;\"><em>On 02 FEB 2024, the Press Information Bureau has posted:-<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800080;\"><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800080;\"><em>The Indian Air Force will be conducting Exercise Vayu Shakti-24 on 17 February 2024 at the Pokhran Air to Ground Range, near Jaisalmer. The last edition of exercise Vayu Shakti was held on 16 February 2019. As always, Ex Vayu Shakti will be a riveting demonstration of the offensive and defensive capabilities of the IAF, spanning across day and night. The exercise will also showcase joint operations with the Indian Army.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\"><u>Vayu Shakti<\/u>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993300;\">It is a triennial exercise. Last it took place in 2019. The next edition was planned in 2022 however, it did not take place in 2022 due to the prevailing geo-political situation (including the intensified Russia-Ukraine conflict).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;\">The theme of air power exercise Vayu Shakti 2024 is <strong>\u201cThunderbolt Strike from the Sky\u201d (Nabhas Vajra Prahar).<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #0000ff;\">The duration of the exercise is about 2 hours and 15 minutes during the day, at dusk and night.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993366;\">40-50 tonnes of ordnance is dropped in a two-kilometer radius in two hours.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;\">It also include demonstrations of surface-to-air, Air To Air and Air-To Ground weapons.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\"><u>Purpose of Demonstration<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #003366;\">The exercise is more than just a demonstration of air power.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993366;\">It demonstrates IAF\u2019s full spectrum capability of combat and fire capabilities in a near-realistic scenario.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #333399;\">It also demonstrates IAF&#8217;s capability to deliver weapons with long-range, precision capability as well as conventional weapons accurately, on time and with devastating effect, while operating from multiple air bases.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #339966;\">It is a reaffirmation of the nation&#8217;s commitment to peace and security, showcasing an integrated defence force ready to protect its sovereignty against all odds.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\"><u>Participating Aircraft.<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">T<span style=\"color: #993300;\">his year, the exercise will see participation by 120 plus aircraft (77 fighter planes, 41 helicopters and five combat support aircraft).<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;\">These will include the Rafale, Mirage-2000, LCA Tejas, Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29s Jaguar, Hawk, C-130J, Chinook, Apache, Prachand and Dhruv and Mi-17.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\"><u>Indigenous Content<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993366;\">The exercise will showcase India\u2019s growing self-reliance in air defence technology, underscoring the IAF\u2019s commitment to integrating home-grown technologies into its operational framework.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #003366;\">The indigenous LCA Tejas, Prachand attack helicopters and ALH Dhruv will be taking part.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993300;\">The indigenous LCA Tejas fighter jet will fire air-to-air missile R-73.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;\">Indigenous Surface to Air Weapon systems Akash and Samar will demonstrate their capability to track and shoot down an intruding aircraft.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;\">Indigenous Rudra helicopters of the Army will also be firing.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\"><u>First Time Debut.<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #0000ff;\">Rafale fighter jet will showcase its power while firing MICA missiles during the exercise.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;\">Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, Apache attack helicopters and indigenous Prachand helicopters will be taking part for the first time in the exercise.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\"><u>Surface Forces.<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993366;\">Special operations by the IAF transport and helicopter fleets, involving the Garuds and Indian Army elements will also be on display.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff0000;\">Rudra helicopters of the Indian Army will fire weapons during the exercise.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #333399;\">Chinook helicopters will display their ability to airlift the army\u2019s M777 ultra-light howitzers as underslung loads for swift deployment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\"><u>Conduct of the Exercise<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000080;\">The exercise area is under the South Western Air Command (SWAC) of the IAF. The exercise will be coordinated by SWAC, IAF.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993300;\">Aircraft will be launched from bases in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Phalodi, Nal, Uttarlai, and also Hindon and Agra. Other bases all over India will also be active.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;\">The exercise will be conducted in a networked environment under IAF\u2019s integrated air command and control system (IACCS).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800080;\">The exercise will be supported by Combat support aircraft, AWACS. AEW&amp;C, UAVs, Air-to-air refuelling aircraft etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;\">The President, Prime minister and Defence minister of India are invited for the exercise. Other ministers, politicians and bureaucrats are also invited. The event is open to observation by international dignitaries (Defence Attaches) and media. Military personnel of the three services and student officers undergoing professional courses at the defence institutions also witness the event. The event during full dress rehearsal day is also open to the general public and school children.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\"><u>Past<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #003366;\">The first firepower demonstration exercise was done way back in 1954 at the Tipat range in Haryana. The exercise was conducted there till 1989.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800080;\">Thereafter, it was moved to Pokharan because of the logistical needs, restrictions and increased bird activity at Tilpat.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\"><u>Ex Vayu Shakti 2019<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;\">The last edition of exercise Vayu Shakti was held on February 16, 2019.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000080;\">IAF demonstrated its capability to <strong>hit hard, hit fast and hit with precision.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;\">The attacking aircraft targeted and destroyed simulated enemy sites including ammunition dumps, bridges and command posts with a variety of missiles, precision-guided munitions, bombs and rockets.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><em><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">I felt privileged to be associated with the ex Vayu Shakti 2019 (besides Balakot Strikes) just before my retirement on 30 Apr 2019.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993366;\">To Know more about the exercise, please watch the curtain raiser for the 2019 exercise (Please click on the link below)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Air Exercise Vayu Shakti 2019- Curtain Raiser On Demo of India&#039;s Air Power | 16th February\" width=\"525\" height=\"295\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qRe0hl7EegE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;\"><u>Suggestions and value additions are most welcome<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #339966;\">For regular updates, please register here<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"1qZZHto1ZQ\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/subscribe\/\">Subscribe<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Subscribe&#8221; &#8212; Air Marshal&#039;s Perspective\" src=\"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/subscribe\/embed\/#?secret=KsQ0B64ISa#?secret=1qZZHto1ZQ\" data-secret=\"1qZZHto1ZQ\" width=\"525\" height=\"296\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><u>References and credits<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">To all the online sites and channels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><u>Disclaimer<\/u>:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Information and data included in the blog are for educational &amp; non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><u>\u00a0<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; Pic Courtesy: Internet &nbsp; Five years back on 14 Feb 2019, I was in Jaisalmer to review the preparations for Exercise Vayu Shakti 2019, when a terrorist attack took place at Pulwama. On 26 Feb 2019, IAF struck Jaish-e-Mohammed\u2019s (JeM) biggest camp in Pakistan. During the twelve days, while the preparation and coordination were &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/2024\/02\/12\/lightning-strike-from-the-sky-ex-vayushakti\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;438: LIGHTNING STRIKE FROM THE SKY:\u00a0 EX VAYUSHAKTI&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,5,19,75,115],"tags":[109,6,471,472,473,8,38,60],"class_list":["post-6846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aircraft","category-airpower","category-article","category-iaf","category-war-and-warfare","tag-aircraft","tag-airpower","tag-exercise-vayu-shakti","tag-fire-power-demo","tag-fpd","tag-iaf","tag-indian-air-force","tag-warfare"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6846"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9170,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6846\/revisions\/9170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}