The Author is Former Director General of Information Systems and A Special Forces Veteran, Indian Army

The Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out Exercise Vayu Shakti 2024 on February 17, 2024, at the Pokhran Range, near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan – 200 km from the border with Pakistan. This triennial event was last held in February 2019. The 2022 edition was cancelled due to the Ukraine conflict and COVID-19. The day and night mega exercise Vayu Shakti 2024, showcasing the offensive and defensive capabilities of the IAF.

Exercise Vayu Shakti 2024 showcased the offensive and defensive capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF) with over 120 aircraft participating, including indigenous and foreign platforms

Earlier, a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release dated February 2, 2024, stated that Ex Vayu Shakti 2024 will see participation by 121 aircraft, including the Rafale, Mirage 2000, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Jaguar, Hawk, C-130J, indigenous Tejas, Chinook, Apache, Mi-17, plus indigenous Prachand and Dhruv helicopters. The press release also said that the exercise will showcase joint operations with the Indian Army and demonstrate capabilities of the indigenous Surface to Air Weapon systems Akash and Samar.

Major objectives of Exercise Vayu Shakti 2024 were to showcase IAF's full-spectrum combat and operational capabilities, including: precision and effectiveness of air-to-ground and air-to-air attacks including seamless integration of diverse aircraft and indigenous platforms; coordination and collaboration with the Indian Army in joint military operations; latest technological advancements and weaponry employed by the IAF; operational night attack and defence capabilities; special operations by transport and helicopter fleets; proficiency in conducting operations from multiple air bases, showcasing the force's flexibility and strategic reach, and; signaling deterrent message to potential adversaries. At a pre-event press conference in Delhi, Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal A.P. Singh had said, “The exercise shows how a task can be accomplished in a coordinated manner. Military power is the ultimate to achieve our national objectives.”

The exercise showcased IAF's full-spectrum combat capabilities, coordination with the Indian Army, proficiency in conducting operations from multiple air bases, and sending a deterrent message to potential adversaries

Over 120 aircraft, including 77 fighters, took part in the day-dusk-night operation. The exercise was witnessed by the Chief of the Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and other officials. The absence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was conspicuous, especially since the President as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces and the Prime Minister are traditionally invited for this exercise. Exercise Vayu Shakti 2024 was a full spectrum fire power demonstration in a near realistic scenario, in which 50 tonnes of ordnance was fired over a two sq km area.

The exercise witnessed the IAF firing some of its most potent weapons, including the beyond visual range (BVR) missile MICA (Missile d'interception, de Combat etd'Autodéfense) from a Rafale jet and Hellfire missiles from an Apache gunship, displaying the force's lethality and the ability to make precision strikes, as the desert sky lit up with bright lights with front line fighter jets like Rafale, LCA Tejas, Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguars rolled in and fired a volley of missiles and rockets destroying simulated enemy targets. Other rotary wing aircraft like the ALH, Mi-17 and Apache also fired rockets and missiles successfully eliminating enemy targets.

The exercise featured the successful firing of potent weapons like the MICA missile and Hellfire missiles, showcasing the IAF's precision strike capabilities

As part of the exercise, Chinook helicopters of the IAF airlifted the Indian Army's M777 ultra-light howitzers in an underslung mode, enabling quick destruction of simulated enemy targets on ground. The indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, for the first time by night, demonstrated effective neutralisation of the designated target using rockets. Night events also included Jaguar and Su-30 MKI aircraft dropping heavy calibre weapons, showcasing the IAF's strategic bombing capability.

The exercise not only showcased the lethality and precision of the weapons, but also the force's ability to operate in a networked environment using the air and surface based weapons and Special Forces. Combat support operations by transport aircraft included delivery of containers by a C-17 heavy-lift aircraft and an assault landing by a C-130J carrying Indian Army Special Forces.Concurrently, IAF Garud commandos, inserted by Mi-17 helicopters for urban intervention, showcased quick and effective destruction of terrorists in their hideout.

Exercise Vayu Shakti 2024 marks the beginning of a series of major exercises planned by the IAF, including the pan-India 'Gagan Shakti' and the multi-nation global exercise 'Tarang Shakti' later this year

Exercise Vayu Shakti 2024, was first of the three major exercises planned by the IAF in India this year. The largest-of-its-kind pan-India Exercise 'Gagan Shakti is planned for later in the year (likely in April 2024), which will have significant participation of the Indian Army and Navy and also civil radars and other agencies. The S-400, or Sudarshan long-range air defence system, is also expected to be activated on both fronts including the western and northern sides, for Exercise Gagan Shakti. This pan-India exercise, conducted once in five years, is also expected to see the Su-30s and the other maritime role fighter aircraft squadrons flying in close coordination with the naval assets, including the P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft and MiG-29K fighters. Exercise Gagan Shakti will be followed by the multi-nation global Exercise 'Tarang Shakti', which will bring together the air forces of 12 friendly nations. Such exercises by the Indian Military are essential for India to progress beyond being a regional power.