107 aircraft including frontline fighters – Mig-21 Bison, Mig-27, Mig-29, Mirage-2000, Su-30 MKI, Jaguars; transport aircraft - AN-32, IL-76, Embraer and helicopters – Mi-17 1V, Mi-35 gunships participated in the exercise. Other unseen force multipliers included IL-78 MKI mid-air refuellers, AWACS and UAV.
The day phase displayed the strike capability of ground attack fighter aircraft. The dusk phase displayed the war-waging capabilities of helicopters. The final phase by night showcased two major aspects of air power – counter air operations and counter surface force operations.
President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil was the chief guest at the display. Others who witnessed the exercise included Rajasthan Governor, Smt. Prabha Rau, Defence Minister, AK Antony, Rajasthan Chief Minister, Shri Ashok Gehlot, Minister of State for Defence, Dr MM Pallam Raju, Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh, three Service Chiefs, senior MOD officials, Military Attachés of various countries and other senior members of the Government of India and the armed forces.
A Mig-29 flying low and supersonic at 1250 Kmph leaving in its wake, a deafening sonic boom signalled an explosive start to the proceedings. This was followed by a photo-reconnaissance run by a formation of three Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft. Three waves of fighter fly-past by a combination of Jaguar, Mig-21 Bison, Mig-27, Mig-29 and Mirage-2000 fighters followed before the armament delivery phase.
An array of targets including mock radar sites, tanks, marshalling yards, terrorist camps, runway, BMP (infantry fighting vehicles), blast pens and convoys were selectively destroyed in the precision attacks by IAF pilots using bombs, rockets and missiles. Both, PGMs (precision guided ammunitions) and conventional armament were used in the display.
Besides witnessing obliteration of ground-based targets, CAP (combat air patrol) versus Strike (intruding enemy force) was among the most stimulating sights on display. An adrenaline-pumping aerial combat scenario of 2vs2 (Su-30 MKIs hunting in pair against an intruding pair of Mirage-2000) was demonstrated. Firing of R-73 infrared (heat seeking) air-to-air missiles by Su-30 MKIs on an aerial flare at the end of their simulated encounter was a rare sight to witness.
As daylight transcended into the realm of twilight zone and darkness in the desert expanse, more devastating effect followed with relentless pounding of rockets, bombs and guns blazing from the turrets of fighters and helicopters even as the night sky glowed intermittently with IR flares dispensed by the attacking aircraft.
The other highlights that enthralled onlookers against the desert landscape at dusk included displays by aerobatics team of Surya Kirans and Sarang, skydiving display by Akash Ganga and compositions by IAF’s Symphonic Orchestra.
source:PIB
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