The Indian Air Force is set to hold its largest military exercise, “Vayu Shakti-2026,” at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Rajasthan near the Pakistan border. President Droupadi Murmu, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, will participate in the exercise by flying a Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand and conducting an aerial survey of the exercise area. This marks the first time the President will co-pilot a combat helicopter in the border airspace of Jaisalmer.
The exercise will kick off in the evening at the Pokhran Range in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. The Air Force will demonstrate its lethal capabilities through aerial fire and precise strikes during the event. Aircraft like Rafale, Sukhoi-30 MKI, and Apache will showcase their strength at ‘Vayu Shakti-2026,’ making the President’s visit strategically significant.
President Murmu, with a profound connection to the Indian Air Force’s aircraft, has a history of flying frontline fighter jets to boost soldiers’ morale. Having flown in a Sukhoi and a Rafale, she made history on October 29, 2025, by flying in a Rafale aircraft of the ‘Golden Arrows’ squadron based in Ambala. President Murmu, the first President to fly in two different fighter aircraft, experienced the Rafale’s power at a speed of around 700 km/h at an altitude of about 15,000 feet.
