Pokhran: The Indian Air Force on Saturday carried out a mega exercise in Rajasthan involving almost all variants of its fighter jets and attack helicopters, in a demonstration of firepower near the border with Pakistan. A total of 137 aircraft, including Su-30s, Mirage 2000s, Jaguars, Mig-21 Bison, Mig-27, Mig-29, IL78, Hercules and AN-32 aircraft participated in the war games. This is also the first time that Advanced Light Helicopter and the Akash surface-to-air missile have been tested in an exercise.
The buzz is that India may go in for precision aerial bombing of select targets in Pak Occupied Kashmir. Due to heavy snow in the upper reaches, large-scale movement of ground troops will not be possible.PM Modi has given a free hand to the forces to decide when they wish to strike against enemy targets.
Meanwhile, as India’s military establishment mulls options to avenge the Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Saturday said that the IAF was ever prepared to deliver “appropriate response” as assigned by India’s political leadership.
