Vayu Shakti drill: Murmu becomes first Prez to fly light combat helicopter; IAF releases video of S400 ‘longest kill’

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday flew in the indigenously-developed HAL Light Combat Helicopter ‘Prachanda’ from the Jaisalmer air force station, becoming the first President of India to co-pilot the advanced combat helicopter.

Thereafter, President Murmu, along with defence minister Rajnath Singh, IAF chief Air Marshal A P Singh, Rajasthan governor Haribhau Bagade and Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, witnessed the IAF’s firepower demonstration as part of the ‘Vayu Shakti’ exercise at the Pokhran range near the Pakistan border on Friday.Hours before the exercise, IAF, for the first time, released a video showcasing the Sudarshan S-400 long-range air defence missile system in operational deployment, offering a rare glimpse into one of India’s most advanced and closely-guarded military assets that played a key role in Operation Sindoor. It posted the video with a caption referencing a historic interception, hitting a target about 314 km deep inside Pakistan territory last May.

The overlay text in the IAF video reads: “Longest-ever kill recorded in military history” and “Enemy may be out of sight but never out of reach.”

At 9.45.am, Murmu undertook a roughly 25-minute sortie from Air Force Station Jaisalmer in a two-aircraft LCH formation. She flew in the lead helicopter with Group Captain Nayan Shantilal Bahua, while Air Chief Marshal A P Singh flew in the second LCH with Group Captain A Mahendra.

The helicopters took an aerial view of the border areas and the Pokhran range. She saluted and gave a thumbs-up, and also addressed the nation via radio during the flight.

The Prachand helicopter is a powerful symbol of self-reliance. I am currently flying over the famous fort of Jaisalmer. I proudly thank the brave soldiers of the country. My loving Namaskar to everyone. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat,” she said. Murmu had earlier become the first President to fly in fighter jets Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Rafale.During the Vayu Shakti drill, the day-dusk-night demonstration in the Thar desert near the Pakistan border, a presentation on Op Sindoor was made at the beginning of the exercise, followed by a detailed display of day target layouts spread across a 3-km area. The simulated targets included an enemy runway, a petroleum storage facility, bunkers, radar sites, tank and armoured convoys, a communication centre, a terror camp, ammunition storage, a hangar and a command-and-control centre.Fighter jets and attack helicopters carried out synchronised operations, displaying strategy formulation, target identification and calibrated destruction. The IAF showcased a calibrated response for controlled escalation and precision strikes as part of the simulated mission.Jaguar and Mirage fighter aircraft struck designated targets simultaneously, replicating coordinated attack patterns demonstrated during Op Sindoor. A Sukhoi fighter aircraft carried out a strike on a simulated terror camp, while suppression and destruction of enemy air defence systems were demonstrated to neutralise hostile capabilities. Apache helicopters, Mirage jets and Mi-17 V5 helicopters also participated in the coordinated operations.