President Murmu, Rajnath Singh Witness IAF’s Vayu Shakti–2026 Exercise

The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) firepower demonstration Exercise Vayu Shakti commenced at the Pokharan range in western Rajasthan on Friday, with President Droupadi Murmu , Defence Minister Rajnath Singh , and senior defence officials in attendance.

The exercise, held near the India–Pakistan border in Jaisalmer district, features fighter jets, transport aircraft, and helicopters conducting coordinated day, dusk, and night operations to demonstrate operational readiness, precision strike capability, and multi-domain combat coordination. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh along with Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also attended the event.

During the evening programme, President Murmu witnessed the aerial firepower display as part of the exercise showcasing combat preparedness and rapid response capabilities of the force.

Separately, the President undertook a sortie in the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand at Air Force Station Jaisalmer. She flew in a two-aircraft formation with Group Captain Nayan Shantilal Bahua as pilot in the lead aircraft and Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flying in the second aircraft.

The approximately 25-minute sortie covered areas over Gadisar Lake and Jaisalmer Fort, where the formation engaged a simulated tank target. In her remarks after the flight, President Murmu described the experience as enriching and said it reinforced her pride in India’s defence capabilities. She congratulated the IAF and the Air Force Station Jaisalmer team for organising the sortie successfully.

Exercise Vayu Shakti aims to demonstrate the IAF’s operational preparedness and integrated combat capability through realistic combat scenarios and coordinated air power deployment.