IAF carries out full dress rehearsal for ‘Vayu Shakti’ exercise at Pokhran range

**EDS: FILE IMAGE** Indian Air Force grounded the entire fleet of around 30 single-seat Tejas jets to carry out an extensive technical scrutiny, after earlier this month, a Tejas LCA sustained major damage to its airframe after it overshot the runway at a frontline airbase following a suspected brake failure, according to authoritative sources, on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. IAF's Tejas at Lachit Ghat over the Brahmaputra river, in Guwahati, in this file image dated, Nov. 9, 2025. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)(PTI02_23_2026_000414B)

Jaisalmer, Feb 24 (PTI) A full dress rehearsal for the Indian Air Force’s ‘Vayu Shakti’ exercise began at the Pokharan range in Western Rajasthan on Tuesday.

The rehearsal, day-dusk-night event in the Thar desert, is being conducted ahead of the main firepower demonstration on February 27.

IAF fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters are participating in the drill, rehearsing coordinated strikes and integrated operations in a near-realistic combat scenario.

The exercise involves synchronised operations aimed at validating operational preparedness, precision strike capability and rapid response mechanisms.

‘Vayu Shakti’ exercise aims to showcase the IAF’s operational preparedness, precision strike capability and ability to undertake multi-domain operations. PTI SDA NB NB

Category: Breaking News

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