Fighter spotting - IAF MiG-21 at Nicco Park, Kolkata!

Vayu Shakti 2010 Press Release - Ministry of Defence

 Image Copyright - Kedar Karmarkar

In a first ever display of its precision strike capability by night, a mammoth fire power demonstration (FPD), codenamed ‘Vayu Shakti-2010’, showcasing the operational capabilities of IAF by day, dusk and night will be held at the sprawling Chandan Air-to-Ground Range, Pokharan on February 28.

The FPD will demonstrate the day and night employability of air power by frontline fighter aircraft of the IAF including Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, Mig-21 and Mig-29. The transport aircraft include AN-32, Embraer and IL-76, while Mi-17 1V and Mi-35 attack helicopters will constitute the rotary wing ingredients.

For the first time AWACS will be used to monitor the mammoth exercise while an unmanned aerial vehicle will stream live video images of the target destruction. In addition to the 65 aircraft participating from all IAF Commands, 30 standby aircraft in air and an equal number on ground will make it one of the biggest participation by IAF aircraft in any such FPD ever.

Mock radar sites, tanks, marshalling yards, terrorist camps, runway, BMP (infantry fighting vehicles), blast pens and convoys are among few of the targets that pilots will seek to destroy. Para-drop and troop insertion of Garud - IAF’s Special Forces to neutralize a terrorist camp will also be on display.

The other attractions will include aerobatics display by Surya Kirans and Sarang, display by IAF sky diving team - Akash Ganga and renditions by IAF Symphonic Orchestra.

The FPD is a collective display of skills and accuracy in weapon delivery by pilots at the end of their training year. The exercise also aids commanders and planners to gain better insight into the potential and deployment capabilities of aerial weapons.

Source: http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=58050&kwd=

Future of Fighter Pilots?? (Ignore the silly MiG-21 comment!)

This picture was submitted by MANPREET ARSHI.

Source: http://www.desicomments.com/funny/latest-design-of-mig-21/

NEWS FLASH - IAF MiG-21 crashes in West Bengal, pilot safe

NEW DELHI: An Indian Air Force MiG-21 combat jet crashed soon after take-off from Bagdora in West Bengal on Friday but the pilot ejected to safety, an IAF spokesman said.

"The aircraft crashed around 3pm soon after take-off and the pilot, squadron leader Rahul Tiwari, ejected safely," the spokesman added.

"The pilot was picked up by an SAR (search and rescue) helicopter and has been taken to hospital," the spoksman said.

This is the second crash of an IAF fighter in three days. A MiG-27 had crashed near the Hashimara air base, also in West Bengal, on Tuesday.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IAF-MiG-21-crashes-in-West-Bengal-pilot-safe-/articleshow/5593107.cms

Video: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videoplay_show