All was not appeared quiet on the western front. The Sidhwan Khas (SK) range of Halwara Air Base, Western Air Command, sprung to wartime action when a mini fire-power display of air-to-ground weapons began by awesome flying machines of Indian Air Force. Hundred kms from the border, the air base maintains war preparedness round-the-clock. With an assortment of MiG-21 Bis, MiG-21 M, MiG-23 BN, Mi-17 and Mi-35 - this base gives ample assurance to the country for a good night’s sleep.

The SK Range, as it is popularly known is located 30 kms west of Ludhiana in Punjab. This dedicated air to ground range enables strike pilots to hone their weapon delivery skill. It is this skill that transforms a machine with armament load into a potent weapon platform, capable of inflicting paralysing blows on the enemy, should the need arise.

At around 10am in the morning, the skies burst open with the roar of four MiG-21 Bis aircraft of the Panthers. The Panthers were airborne from Suratgarh, and reached SK range after having flown a distance of more than 250 kms. The aircraft fired 23 mm front gun in a single pass.

The next in sequence were four MiG 21 aircraft of the Golden Arrows. Flown in from Bhatinda these aircraft fired 57 mm rockets with precision. Coming up next was a MiG-23 BN aircraft of the Desert Tigers, Halwara. MiG- 23 BN is an all-weather supersonic fighter-bomber. This killer birdie, capable of sweeping wings forward and back, is also equipped with a twin-barrel 23 mm gun. With a maximum speed of 1.7 mach, it is capable of taking the battle to the heart of enemy. Then Mi-17 IVs of Mighty Armours fired sixteen 80 mm rockets. This aircraft is an upgraded version of Mi-17 with ‘Doppler’ navigation system, modern avionics and improved engine for better high altitude performance. The last to fire was a two-aircraft formation of Mi-35 aircraft. Gladiators, as they are known, were airborne from Pathankot and fired 57 mm rockets and 23 mm guns.

Owing to the large habitation around this range, the demonstration had to be restricted to practice ammunition not more than 100 kgs in weight. The actual weapons, which are far more lethal and destructive, come in the form of 250 kgs, 500 kgs, 1000 kgs and the heavy calibre rockets.