Question: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on 18 March 2016 successfully conducted Exercise Iron Fist in-
(a) Jaisalmer
(b) Pokhran
(c) Visakhapatnam
(d) Mangalore
Ans (b)
Related facts:
- On 18 March 2016 Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted Exercise Iron Fist at Pokhran, in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert.
- Exercise Iron Fist is a biennial event that showcases the firepower capacity of the Indian Air Force.
- The exercises included combat maneuvers and live firing of Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air precision weapons by Fighters, Transport Aircraft and Helicopters.
- The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee and PM Narendra Modi witnessed the Exercise Iron Fist 2016 on 18 March 2016.
- The event comprised six packages depicting six themes in which more than 180 aircraft, including fighters, transport and helicopters participated.
- Fly Past: Vintage aircraft fly-past by “Tigermoth” evoked the memories of the birth of military aviation in India and was followed by the Pilatus, the latest trainer aircraft of the IAF.
- The fly past by a mixed formation comprising a MiG-21 Bison, MiG-27 Upgrade, MiG-29 and the mighty Su-30, showcased the transformation of the IAF over the decades.
- Net Enabled Operations: This segment commenced by the majestic fly past of the indigenously developed Airborne Early Warning and Control System and the display of AWACS aircraft.
- The flypast was followed by a synchronized multiple aircraft weapon delivery demonstration of precision based bombing at simulated enemy targets by Mirage-2000, Su-30, MiG-27 Upgrade aircraft and the Jaguar.
- After demonstrating the offensive capabilities, the exercise demonstrated the multi-layered Air Defence Operations of the IAF.
- It comprised of the fly past by the Flight Refueling aircraft (IL-78 FRA) along with two Su-30 aircraft and the indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’, which displayed its swing role attack capabilities by delivering Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) followed by firing an air to air missile, engaging both targets with deadly precision.
- Earlier ‘Exercise Iron Fist “was held in 2013.
- Besides above demonstration, IAF also demonstrated Combat Support Operation, Flying Displays and All Weather Operation.
Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=138111
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=137660
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=138170
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=138172
http://pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/pm-attends-iaf-fire-power-demonstration-iron-fist-2016-at-pokhran/?comment=disable