IAF Sets Feb. 27 Vayushakti-26 Live-Fire at Pokharan With 120+ Aircraft and C-295 Debut

Overview

• More than 120 air assets will participate, including 77 fighters such as Rafale, Su-30MKI, MiG-29, Tejas, Jaguar and Mirage 2000, plus Apache, Chinook, LCH and ALH helicopters, and eight transports with the C-295 appearing for the first time.
• The demonstration spans day, dusk and night missions with roughly 43 events against 23 targets, deploying about 277 weapons and detonating nearly 12,000 kg of explosives over approximately two hours and 35 minutes.
• Integrated operations will feature Indian Army elements using M-777 howitzers, L-70 guns and Para Special Forces, alongside advanced systems including SRLM, Akash, SpyDer and counter‑UAS capabilities.
• Aircraft will launch from bases at Jaisalmer, Phalodi, Uttarlai, Jodhpur, Hindon and Vadodara under South Western Air Command, with a NOTAM issued, a full dress rehearsal on February 24 and February 28 held as a standby date.
• Officials say long-distance targeting will not be re-enacted at Pokharan, with ground effects of past strikes to be shown, and the program will also highlight the IAF’s humanitarian airlift and evacuation roles.