Iron Fist is an Indian Air Force exercise held at Pokhran, Rajasthan. It has been held twice - 2013 and 2016. The Iron Fist 2013 was the Indian Air Force's first day-night exercise conducted on 22 February 2013 at the Pokhran firing range.

The main objective was to display network-centric operations capabilities of the Indian Air Force. More than 100 aircraft and 30 different weapon platforms participated.

Live Telecast

The live telecast was divided into four phases.

• Phase 1: Flypast
The flypast was done with several aircraft to start the events of live exercise. It consisted of the following displays:
1. 3 Mi-8 helicopters with the tricolor
2. MiG-27 flying at 450 km/hour with Iron Fist 13 banner in tow
3. Jaguar showing live footage of the main spectator stand from aircraft cameras
4. Rejuvenated Tiger Moth
5. Pilatus PC-7 Mk2 aerobtics
6. MiG-29 (Supersonic flypast)
7. All 5 variants of MiG-21 in service with IAF in an Arrowhead formation
8. 5 Jaguar aircraft in Arrowhead formation
9. 5 Upgraded MiG-27 in Arrowhead formation
10. 5 MiG-29 in Arrowhead formation
11. Formation flight of Jaguar, MiG-21 Bison and MiG-27
12. 3 Su-30 MKI in Vic formation
13. HAL Cheetah + HAL Chetak + HAL Dhruv + HAL LCH
14. Aerobatics by HAL LCH

• Phase-2: Offensive capabilities
The Exercise showcased offensive operations like destroying communication centers, runways, hangars, fuel & ammunition buildings, etc. deep behind enemy lines. Major Offensive demonstrations:
1. Dive attack by Mirage 2000 after scouting of ground targets by Jaguar and IAI Herons
2. Mig-21 Bison attacking ground target with 64 mm Rockets
3. Su-30MKI dropping 1000 lb Guided bomb (Aborted)
4. Mig-27 firing 40 mm Rockets on ground targets
5. Su-30MKI firing runway penetrating bombs
6. Jaguar demonstrating precision bombing
7. Su-30MKI firing precison guided bombs
8. Jaguar firing 3 x 1000 lb bombs
9. HAL Tejas demonstrating swing role capability: an LGB on ground target quickly followed by an R-73 launch to shoot down a simulated interceptor

• Phase-3: Defensive Operations
1. MANPADS firing
2. Garud Commandos carrying out a Search & Rescue mission from a Mi-17 escorted by Mi-35.
3. OSA AK-M Surface to air firing
4. Mi-35 firing 80 mm Rockets on ground targets
5. BAe Hawk trainer aircraft two 125 kg bombs followed by 68 mm rockets
6. MiG-21 fire S-24 (240 mm caliber) heavy rockets
7. Su-30MKI fire 26 x 250 kg bombs demonstrating carpet bombing
8. 2 C-130J deploy 60 paratroopers
9. Mi-17 demonstrating quick slithering operation
10. Mi-17 demonstrating deploying of a Fast Attack Vehicle with 5 Guards who conduct a surgical strike and return to the Mi-17 for quick escape
11. IL-76 dropping heavy cargo with parachutes escorted by 2 Mig-29 who intercept and fire R-73 missile at an interceptor
12. C-130J demonstrates an assault landing on a short field deploys 26 commandos and quickly takes off in about 1000 feet and flies away with complex maneuvering
13. Mi-17 demonstrate fire control using slithered buckets

• Flying displays:
After these live weapons demonstrations, several aerobatics display and other events continued before commencing of Phase 4: Night Operations.
1. HAL Dhruv Sarang helicopter display team aerobatics
2. Su-30MKI aerobatics
3. Akash Ganga sky diving team deployed from an An-32
4. Simulation of the Operation Black Tornado by the NSG from a Mi-17
5. IAI Heron (remote-piloted aircraft, RPA) demonstration
6. Rifle drill by the Air Force
7. Musical performance by IAF bands
8. Handing mementos to various dignitaries in presence

• Phase-4: Night operations
Targets were briefed before the firing commenced. All aircraft fired flares before deploying targets to enhance visibility. Following operations were carried out:
1. An-32 modified to deploy weapons 10 x 1000 lb carpet bombing demonstration
2. MiG-27UP firing S-24 heavy rockets
3. Mirage-2000 firing dumb bombs
4. MiG-27UP firing S-24 heavy rockets
5. Jaguar firing 3 × 1000 lb bombs from 500 feet altitude
6. Jaguar firing 4 × 1000 lb bombs in dive
7. Su-30MKI firing 18 × 250 kg bombs (Aborted)
8. Jaguar 4 × 1000 lb bombs
9. Mi-17 Night Slither operation to drop Garud commandos under search light
10. Pechora SAM-3 ripple firing to an airborne target at 10 km range
11. Mi-35 firing S-24 heavy rockets fired with assistance of newly included NVG & FLIR avionics
12. IL-78MKI firing 300 flares to announce end of Iron Fist 2013
13. An-32 firing 50 flares