IAF to showcase 'Vayu-Shakti' event in February next year

"The demonstration 'Vayu Shakti' will be unleashed at the Pokhran firing ranges (Jaisalmer district) in the deserts of Rajasthan in the third week of February next year," defence spokesperson Col S D Goswami said.

There will be a day-night practice and show of strength of the IAF.

"The pre-firing demonstration and rehearsal will start in November this year," Goswami said, adding that the demonstration was to showcase the full range of IAF skills and capabilities.

About 100 planes of different variety like the Sukhoi 30s, Mirage 2000, Jaguars, MIG 21, attack helicopters, transport aircrafts including AN-32 and Embraer will display their full power.

High-tech 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.

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 neutralise a terrorist camp will also be on display.

"In addition to many aircrafts participating from all IAF Commands, many standby aircraft in the air and an equal number on the ground will make it one of the biggest participation by IAF aircraft in any such Fire Power Demonstration, the spokesperson said.