On February 23, 2013, Indian Air Force (IAF) will showcase its might in a follow on to its ‘Vayu Shakti’ series of demonstration, this time called the ‘Iron Fist’ signifying the recent enhancement of its firepower. It will display the state-of-the-art weaponry with full spectrum precision, flexibility and lethality and will be much more all encompassing than the fictional comic book superhero by the same name. All frontline fighters, including the indigenous LCA; the transport fleet with its latest C-130J; a bouquet of helicopters in armed roll; live firing by Pechora, OSA-AKM and Igla surface-to-air missiles will be demonstrated. There will be air-to-air firing of very potent missiles from LCA and Su-30. The IAF’s largest firing range at Pokhran, near Jaiselmer in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, will go ‘live’ at midday and there will special action at dusk and in the dark of the night. This biggest firepower demonstration ever of the Indian Air Force ever is an event to watch. The name and logo for the event were cleared at the level of the Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne who has been personally driving the whole exercise.

The 230 aircraft day and night demonstration has been essentially divided into seven segments. Aircraft will take-off from 10 different airbases. It will start with showcasing 80-year-old history with Tiger Moth flying and then we will have latest induction Pilatus PC-7 MkII which will be seen in the air for the first time. Other thing significant will be participation of HAL-built light combat helicopter (LCH). Doing the service more quietly will be the flight refuelling aircraft (FRA), the remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) and airborne warning and control system (AWACS) who are the real force-multipliers. This year’s demonstration would also highlight IAFs capability to operate round the clock in a net-centric environment.

This event comes just a few days after India’s world-class air show, the Aero India 2013. Aviation is thus in the air and flavour of the season. Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command, Air Marshal A.K. Gogoi has a lot on his plate. The event will be witnessed by the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. The who’s who of the Central and state Governments, the entire Military brass, the diplomatic and press corps, among others, will witness this show of air might. To ensure more can watch this great event, and at a more leisurely pace, a full dress rehearsal two days earlier has invites to many more people. Proximity to the border and the level of attendance would mean the security at the event would be at a premium.

Years of grooming and training are at test and on display. There is a massive build up phase to an exercise of this scale and magnitude. While the exercise has a great training value, it also is meant to reassure the nation that the expensive weapon systems are indeed in safe hands. It is also meant to tell those with nefarious designs that they will be up against an ‘Iron Fist’ if they were to choose a misadventure.

To reinforce patriotic fervour and keep the adrenal running, Akash Ganga, IAF’s Para jumping team, IAF’s Special Forces Garud, Air Warrior Drill Team and Air Warrior Symphony Orchestra will also perform. If one wants to smell cordite and to rub shoulders with the men in blue, Pokhran is the place to be in. Happy Shooting is not only for those on a hunt.