President Murmu Takes Flight on LCH Prachand at IAF's Vayu Shakti

(MENAFN- AsiaNet News)

President Droupadi Murmu took a sortie on the indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, here on Friday. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, flew alongside the Supreme Commander in the second LCH. The President is in Jaisalmer to witness the IAF’s Exercise Vayu Shakti.

IAF’s Exercise Vayu Shakti-26

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is demonstrating its capabilities through Exercise Vayu Shakti-26 at Pokhran Air-to-Ground Range, Jaisalmer on February 27, 2026. As the first, fastest, and fiercest responder, the Indian Air Force is highlighting its ability to quickly punish the enemy, dominate the operational environment from the start, and decisively influence the course of operations by turning tactical actions into strategic outcomes.

The exercise offers a glimpse of how the IAF plays a vital role in humanitarian assistance and disaster management by providing rapid airlift, rescue, and evacuation from conflict zones both within the country and abroad.

Full-spectrum operations by fighter, transport, and helicopter platforms including Tejas, Rafale, Jaguar, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-29, Hawk, C-130J, C-295, C-17, Chetak, ALH MK-IV, Mi-17 IV, LCH, Apache, Chinook, and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) will be carried out. The exercise will feature advanced weapon systems such as Short Range Loitering Munitions (SRLM), Akash, SpyDer, and Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS), conducting day, dusk, and night missions.

Showcasing Combat and Support Operations

During the exercise, advanced fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force, including Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, HAL Tejas, and Mirage 2000, will perform precision strikes using air-to-ground guided bombs and missiles, accurately targeting enemy bunkers, runways, and command centers. Additionally, Boeing Apache and Boeing Chinook helicopters will conduct low-altitude rocket and gun firing drills, casualty evacuation operations, and transport equipment to challenging battlefield terrains.

Reaffirming National Security and Self-Reliance

Vayu Shakti-26 will also highlight the success of Operation Sindoor, reaffirming the IAF’s dominance in airspace control, long-range precision targeting, multi-domain operations, and its ability to deliver decisive effects with indigenous platforms guided by the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.’

Guided by the core values “Achook, Abhedya, and Sateek,” the exercise aims to reassure the nation by reaffirming the IAF’s role as a key component of India’s national security framework. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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