Opinion | IAF Exercise Vayu Shakti-2026: Showcase Of Air Power & Indigenisation — Touching The Sky With Glory

Air Marshal Anil Chopra

The exercise is not mere pageantry. It is a multi-faceted endeavour with strategic, operational, and societal aims

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is all set to conduct “Exercise Vayu Shakti-26" on February 27, 2026, at the Pokhran air-to-ground range, near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The event was last held in February 2024. As always, the day and night exercise Vayu Shakti-26 is expected to be a fascinating demonstration of the offensive and defensive capabilities, combat dominance, operational readiness, and indigenous strength of IAF through a high-intensity operational event. It is a showcase of IAF’s assets and combat equipment and the capabilities of the crew which is operating them. It will also demonstrate joint operations with the Indian Army. The 2026 exercise carries the tagline “Achook, Abhedya aur Sateek" (Infallible, Impervious, and Precise). President Murmu, the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, will attend.

The focus will be the “Spectacular Roar of Strength & Precision", and the objective to “Showcasing IAF’s operational capability, precision strike potential, and network-centric warfare proficiency". And the context: “Air Power Display: Strengthening National Security and Self-Reliance (Aatmanirbhar Bharat)". The 2026 exercise features over 120 aircraft, including Rafale, Tejas, and Apache helicopters, demonstrating the IAF’s capability to win future wars. Exercise Vayu Shakti 2026 stands as a spectacular testament to the IAF’s evolution, capability, and resolve. Other than hardware and ordnance, Vayu Shakti will display doctrine, integration, and human skill, and project the future of aerial warfare, deterrence, and joint operations. It will be a narrative of operational readiness and technological synergy to inspire the nation, reassure strategic partners, and galvanise the Generation-Next towards service.

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IAF’s Fire Power Demonstrations Evolve

Air power demonstrations are meant to showcase the air might of the country to its own people to give them confidence in the military power and its air assets, and level of training and precision. It also showcases to the friends and adversaries the lethality of the fourth-largest air force of the world, and the deterrent signals that go with it. It is meant to reassure the sister armed forces and the government machinery that the IAF will deliver when the nation calls upon it.

The still-growing IAF staged its first “Firepower Demonstration" at the Tilpat Range near Delhi in 1954. The event was attended by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The demonstration featured the Toofani (Dassault Ouragan), Supermarine Spitfire, and the de Havilland Vampire. Demonstrations continued every few years showcasing IAF’s capabilities and resolve and evolving tactics and platforms. From 1978, the event began to be witnessed by India’s President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. In 1989, the demonstration venue moved from Tilpat to the much larger Pokhran field firing and weapon testing range in the deserts of Rajasthan. The signature name “Vayu Shakti" started in 1999, encompassing the strength and fundamentals of air power. In 2013 and 2016, the exercise was christened as “Iron Fist," showcasing IAF’s offensive power. Since 2019, the IAF reverted the title back to “Vayu Shakti," referring to the strength, force, and capability of the air.

Objectives of Vayu Shakti-2026

The major objectives of the exercise are to showcase IAF’s full-spectrum combat and operational capabilities. Demonstrate the precision and effectiveness of air-to-ground and air-to-air attacks. Emphasise the seamless integration of diverse aircraft, including........

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