IAF Concludes Vayushakti-26 With Day–Night Firepower Display at Pokhran

Overview

• The Ministry of Defence confirmed the Indian Air Force’s Vayushakti-26 at the Pokhran range, with President Droupadi Murmu attending and taking a sortie in the indigenous LCH Prachand.
• Official material cited participation of over 130 aircraft across fighter, transport and helicopter fleets, while a Times of India report put the figure at 77.
• Fighter platforms including Rafale, Su-30MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29 and Jaguar executed precision strikes as Akash and SPYDER air defence systems engaged simulated aerial threats.
• A Rafale produced a timed sonic boom to open the sequence, and a concluding drone display depicted IAF formations and past operations such as Balakot and Operation Sindoor.
• Special operations featured Garud and Para SF insertions with night strikes and air‑landed missions, while media reporting—not corroborated in the official release—described roughly 120 tonnes of ordnance delivered and Chinooks underslinging M-777 howitzers.