Last edition of the Vayu Shakti exercise was conducted on February 16, 2019. In this exercise, joint operations will also be conducted with the Indian Army.
A total of 121 aircraft including Indian made fighter aircraft Tejas, Prachanda and Dhruv will be included in Vayushakti Abhyas 2024. Other aircraft taking part in Exercise Vayushakti include Rafale, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Jaguar, Hawk, C-130J fighters and Chinook, Apache and Mi-17 helicopters. Indigenously developed surface-to-air weapon systems Akash and Samar will demonstrate their capability to track and shoot down intruding enemy aircraft.
A press release from the Defense Ministry said that Exercise Vayu Shakti will be a demonstration of the IAF’s capability to deliver weapons with long range, precision capability as well as conventional weapons accurately, on time and with devastating effect, while operating from multiple air bases. Special operations by the IAF transport and helicopter fleets, involving the Garuds and Indian Army elements will also be on display.