 "Five SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force in an arrowhead formation fly over the Yehlanka Airforce Base. File image/AFP")
India has issued a Notice to Airmen (Notam) for a major Indian Air Force (IAF) exercise to be held from July 23 to 25 in Rajasthan, near the international border with Pakistan.
Led by the South Western Air Command, the high-intensity aerial drill will span across parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, particularly from Barmer to Jodhpur, which is close to Pakistan.
The exercise is part of the IAF’s routine operational readiness drills aimed at strengthening combat preparedness along the western front.
Pak also issues Notams
In what appears to be a parallel move, Pakistan has also issued Notams — for its central region until July 23, and the southern zone on July 22–23.
“The exercise, likely involving two or more IAF commands , is designed to ensure round-the-clock preparedness,” an official said to The Hindu. “NOTAMs are issued to clear airspace for intensive military activity and to keep civilian aircraft out of harm’s way.”
According to The Hindu report, the IAF drill will feature frontline fighter jets such as Rafale, Mirage 2000, and Sukhoi-30, along with air defence systems and support platforms. Night operations will be a key component, testing India’s 24/7 air warfare capabilities.
Amid backdrop of Op Sindoor
The exercise comes amid heightened tensions along the border following Operation Sindoor — India’s retaliatory strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. That assault, carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists, killed 26 people, most of them tourists. The incident has marked a shift in India’s counter-terror approach, reflecting a “new normal” in its security doctrine.
The upcoming IAF exercise is seen as a strategic show of strength, aimed at reinforcing air superiority and deterring cross-border threats with swift and decisive action.