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 IAF
conducts the exercise every year but the dusk
and night phase display was the first ever by
the IAF.
107 aircraft including Mig-21 Bison, Mig-27 UPG,
Mig-29, Mirage-2000, Su-30 MKI, Jaguars, AN-32,
IL-76, Embraer, 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, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, was the
chief guest at the display. Others present included
Defence Minister AK Antony, Minister of State
for Defence Dr MM Pallam Raju, Marshal of the
IAF Arjan Singh, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief
Marshal P V Naik as well as Army Chief Gen Deepak
Kapoor and Naval Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma.
Senior Ministry of Defence officials and 28 Military
attaches of various countries also witnessed the
impressive firepower display. The show was appreciated
by one and all present and Mr. Antony conveyed
the appreciation of the President and congratulated
the IAF for its capabilities in precision engagement.
On being asked if the show was meant to convey
any signals, he said: "The exercise is not
meant to send any signals to any country. It was
meant to assure the nation and show the capability
of our armed forces that they are in safe hands"
" We are not war-mangers. We shouldn't be
worried about threats from any quarters. The exercise
was meant to showcase jointness of the Indian
Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy."
 The
Defence Ministry observed that India wanted peace
in the region but terrorism from across the borders
threatened every one. "Our real concern is
existence of terror camps intact across the border
after the 26/11 attack. There are 42 terror camps.
And there has been no serious effort to dismantle
these camps."
The exercise was literally given an explosive
start by a MiG-29 flying low and supersonic at
1250 kmph leaving in its wake a deafening sonic
boom.
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.
The array of targets including mock radar sites,
tanks, marshalling yards, terrorist camps, runway,
BMPs (infantry fighting vehicles), blast pens.
The 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), 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 twilight and darkness,
relentless pounding of rockets, bombs and guns
blazing from the turrets of fighters and helicopters
lit up the night sky. All aircraft dispensed IR
flares making it easy for onlookers to discern
when the armament was fired by the attacking aircraft.
In a special segment the synergy of the Army
Para Commandos, Naval Marine Commandos and IAF
Special Force Garuds was also demonstrated as
they para-dropped together and destroyed mock
terrorist camps.
The other highlights included aerobatics display
by Surya Kirans and Sarang, skydiving by Akash
Ganga and renditions by IAF’s Symphonic Orchestra.
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