Vayu Shakti 2026: IAF To Showcase India’s Airpower Next Month In Rajasthan Near Pakistan Border

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to conduct a major air power exercise, Vayu Shakti-2026, in Rajasthan next month, with the large-scale display of aerial combat capabilities scheduled near the Pakistan border.

The exercise is expected to underline India’s operational readiness and combat preparedness amid evolving regional security dynamics.

According to reports, Vayu Shakti-2026 will feature a wide range of complex air combat missions, including Large Force Engagement (LFE), Defensive Counter Air (DCA), Offensive Counter Air (OCA), Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD), Tactical Reconnaissance (TacR), and Close Air Support (CAS).

The drills are designed to test the IAF’s ability to conduct coordinated, high-intensity operations across multiple

mission profiles.

The exercise follows the successful Vayu Shakti-2024, held on February 17, 2024, at the Pokhran Air-to-Ground Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

The triennial event is among the IAF’s most significant firepower demonstrations and showcases the full spectrum of its offensive and defensive capabilities in both day and night conditions, including joint operations with the Indian Army.

The 2024 edition witnessed the participation of over 120 aerial platforms, comprising 77 fighter aircraft such as Rafale, Su-30MKI, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, and Tejas, along with 41 helicopters including Prachand, Apache, Chinook, and Mi-17, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles.

The exercise focused on precision strike operations, featuring the employment of guided munitions, air-to-ground missiles, and rocket systems against simulated enemy targets.

Vayu Shakti-2024 also marked the operational debut of the Rafale fighter jet and the indigenous Prachand light combat helicopter in the exercise, highlighting India’s growing emphasis on indigenisation.

The event reinforced the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative by showcasing domestically developed platforms such as Tejas and Dhruv.

Building on that momentum, Vayu Shakti-2026 is expected to further demonstrate the IAF’s expanding combat capabilities and its readiness to respond swiftly and decisively to any aerial threat along India’s western front.