President Pranab Mukherjee releasing the Postal Cover to commemorate 50 Years of Air Power of Indian Air Force. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne are also seen.

MiG-21 firing rockets

AN-32 releasing flares

Embraer releasing flares as part of the finale

A close up of the aircraft soon after releasing flares

1,000 Lbs bombs being dropped by the Jaguars

Exercise Iron Fist 2013 held at the air-to-ground firing range at Pokhran near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan on February 22, 2013, was undoubtedly the greatest show ever of Indian air power. This time, both the President and the Prime Minister of India witnessed the demonstration of fire power the Indian Air Force (IAF) was capable of delivering against an adversary. Pokhran has been the venue for fire power demonstration by the IAF since 1988. This year, the day, dusk and night event was to showcase all facets of air power with participation by the entire inventory of manned and unmanned aircraft, air-to-air and surface-to-air weapons, Special Forces and net-centric warfare capability. Also on show was soft power, which included demonstration by Akash Ganga skydiving team and the ‘Sarang’.

The event began with the arrival of the President of India Pranab Mukherjee. Earlier Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and a host of other dignitaries both civilian and military as well as the military diplomats and the media had arrived. The firing range which came into limelight after the ‘Smiling Buddha’ nuclear test of 1974, is spread over several hundred square kilometres in a sparsely populated desert area of the country. For the event, a large number of dummy structures simulating a variety of targets had been erected. The visitors were briefed on the details of the event and pictures from the ‘Heron’ unmanned aerial vehicle flying at high altitude above the venue were projected on large screens.

Welcoming the guests, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, Chief of the Air Staff, stated, “The glorious history of the IAF over the last eight decades has been a saga of professional and boundless energy displayed by air warriors in the face of insurmountable odds. Exercise Iron Fist 2013 is aimed at showcasing the operational capabilities of a transforming IAF and assuring the nation that the safety of its sovereign skies lies in very capable hands.”

The display began with three Mi-8 helicopters trooping colours followed by a MiG-27 towing the ‘Iron Fist’ banner. A flypast followed with the oldest and the newest, a Tiger Moth, and the latest entrants, the ‘Pilatus’. The main event then began with a low-level sonic run by a MiG-29 and was followed by formation fly past by MiG-21s, Jaguars, MiG-27s, MiG-29s, Su-30s, a mixed fighter formation and a mixed helicopter formation.

The air was filled with the smell of the cordite, sound and fury. Formation after formation rained bombs and rockets with the aircraft releasing flares. The fire power demonstrations included Mirage 2000 with 250 kg bomb, Bison with salvo of 57 mm rockets, Su-30 with TV guided Russian KAB 500 kg, laser guided bombs (LGB) and BETAB bombs, MiG-27s with 80 mm rockets, Jaguars with 1,000 pounders and 500 kg practice bombs. The heavy calibre weapons rented the air with pounding noise and shock wave. The event that was applauded by the audience was the indigenous Tejas LCA achieving a direct hit with an LGB and then turning around to fire the R-73 close-combat air-to-air missile on a flare dropped earlier by a MiG-21. Two Russian ‘Igla’ shoulder-fired missiles were also launched on the same flare. Two OSA AK-M quick-reaction short-range surface-to-air missiles were then fired on a drum target dropped by an AN-32.

Two young pilots flying the Hawk fired rockets dropped bombs with pin-point accuracy getting special applause from the central stand. A Mi-17 V5 accompanied by two Mi-35s demonstrated a CSAR mission which was bounced by a simulated enemy aircraft. Front gun strafing, heavy rockets, stick bombing by a variety of fighters followed. Rocket firing by Mi-35s was the most impressive. At the end of the events by day, there was a para-drop by two C-130Js, heavy drop by IL-76 and slithering from Mi-17 1Vs.

Dusk events began by a MiG-29, sanitising the airspace by firing an R-73 on a flare. A C-130J carried out an assault landing on a semi-prepared strip and unloaded troops. The next was Bambi Bucket Operations to extinguish fire by two Mi-17s. FLIR demonstration by the Mi-17 1V was shown on the screens. Combined Operations by the NSG and Garud dropped by a Mi-17 V5 in an urban scenario, were greatly appreciated by the VIPs and the DG NSG. The icing on the cake was the low-level aerobatics by the Su-30. Omar Browne, son of the current Air Chief, on the controls with it re-enforced the faith senior officers have in our machines.

Before the night events began, there was threat of rain and thunderstorm. Although the visibility dropped considerably, the show went on. The 30-minute event that followed included a Mi-17, firing 128 rockets in three seconds; a volley that can obliterate any target in the tactical battle area. The ten thousand pound bombs dropped by an AN-32 shook the stand. A train of fighters unloaded bombs in quick succession. Just two days earlier, during the full dress rehearsal, a suspected bomb explosion under the wing of a Su-30 MKI had resulted in fire and forced the pilots to abandon the aircraft. Witnessing Pechora firing at night is a memorable experience. Slithering Operations under search light cover from two other helicopters also had great operational significance.

The finale was the impressive bulk flare dispensation by IL-78, AN-32, and Embraer VVIP aircraft. It was a good show for the Air Force and the SWAC. The dignitaries were impressed. Defence Minister A.K. Antony was most satisfied with a job well done. Former Defence Minister Jaswant Singh was visibly proud. The young MPs Naveen Jindal and Piyush Goyal were vocally excitedly and thrilled. Presumably, the politicians and bureaucrats got a whiff of what the money invested would actually do to the enemy and got the confidence that the country was in safe hands. The diplomatic corps must have been in awe of this emerging power. Our own brethren in Army and Navy would feel more secure.