NEW DELHI: India will launch a major air combat exercise close to the international border in Rajasthan with frontline fighters like Rafales, Mirage-2000s & Sukhoi-30MKIs as well as force-multipliers, in some more muscle-flexing to keep Pakistan on the edge after naval drills in the north Arabian Sea.
A NOTAM (notice to airmen) for airspace reservation has been issued for the exercise over a large area hugging the border with Pakistan from 3.30pm on Wednesday to 9.30pm on Thursday, officials said.
The public warning came as Indian and Pakistan armies Tuesday talked over the director-general of military operations (DGMO) hotline, while they continued to exchange small arms fire at multiple places across Line of Control for the 12th successive night.
The high-tempo air drill, which the IAF described as a "routine pre-planned training exercise", will include the entire spectrum of day and night warfare under simulated hostile conditions. This is in keeping with the high operational readiness being maintained by the Indian armed forces, as various military options against Pakistan are being kept open by govt.
Fighters, helicopters, remotely-piloted aircraft and force-enablers like IL-78 mid-air refuellers and airborne early-warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft will be deployed from different air bases for the exercise. Rajasthan itself has some key airbases like Jaisalmer, Uttarlai, Suratgarh, Nal and Phalodi.
The IAF exercise mirrors the Navy's multiple drills conducted in the northern Arabian Sea last week, with several frontline warships being deployed and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and other weapon systems being tested. One specified zone was just around 80-85 nautical miles from where the Pakistan navy was undertaking its own drills.
The show of force has now been extended from the maritime to the air domain. The IAF has been undertaking regular combat air patrols (CAPs) amid the heightened tensions with Pakistan, while it has also increased the number of operational readiness platforms (ORPs) at airbases on the western front.
Over the DGMO hotline, through which talks traditionally take place every Tuesday, the Indian Army is learnt to have raised the issue of Pakistan army posts opening "unprovoked" small arms fire at several locations across the 778-km long LoC.
The exchanges with rifles and LMGs took place in areas like Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani and Akhnoor on Monday night, with Indian troops "responding promptly in a proportionate manner", an officer said.
While heavy-calibre weapons like 155mm artillery guns and 120mm mortars are not yet being used by either side, this upward spiral in ceasefire violations (CFVs) - since the Pahalgam terror massacre - was last witnessed when India had scrapped the provisions of Article 370 in Aug 2019.
It had led to a particularly violent 2020, with as many as 5,133 CFVs of firing and artillery duels being recorded that year. In Feb 2021, the two DGMOs had reached a fresh understanding to maintain peace and tranquillity along the LoC and the 198-km international boundary in J&K. Earlier, in May 2018, a similar understanding between the DGMOs had gradually withered away with escalation in cross-border hostilities.
A NOTAM (notice to airmen) for airspace reservation has been issued for the exercise over a large area hugging the border with Pakistan from 3.30pm on Wednesday to 9.30pm on Thursday, officials said.
The public warning came as Indian and Pakistan armies Tuesday talked over the director-general of military operations (DGMO) hotline, while they continued to exchange small arms fire at multiple places across Line of Control for the 12th successive night.
The high-tempo air drill, which the IAF described as a "routine pre-planned training exercise", will include the entire spectrum of day and night warfare under simulated hostile conditions. This is in keeping with the high operational readiness being maintained by the Indian armed forces, as various military options against Pakistan are being kept open by govt.
Fighters, helicopters, remotely-piloted aircraft and force-enablers like IL-78 mid-air refuellers and airborne early-warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft will be deployed from different air bases for the exercise. Rajasthan itself has some key airbases like Jaisalmer, Uttarlai, Suratgarh, Nal and Phalodi.
The IAF exercise mirrors the Navy's multiple drills conducted in the northern Arabian Sea last week, with several frontline warships being deployed and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and other weapon systems being tested. One specified zone was just around 80-85 nautical miles from where the Pakistan navy was undertaking its own drills.
The show of force has now been extended from the maritime to the air domain. The IAF has been undertaking regular combat air patrols (CAPs) amid the heightened tensions with Pakistan, while it has also increased the number of operational readiness platforms (ORPs) at airbases on the western front.
Over the DGMO hotline, through which talks traditionally take place every Tuesday, the Indian Army is learnt to have raised the issue of Pakistan army posts opening "unprovoked" small arms fire at several locations across the 778-km long LoC.
The exchanges with rifles and LMGs took place in areas like Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani and Akhnoor on Monday night, with Indian troops "responding promptly in a proportionate manner", an officer said.
While heavy-calibre weapons like 155mm artillery guns and 120mm mortars are not yet being used by either side, this upward spiral in ceasefire violations (CFVs) - since the Pahalgam terror massacre - was last witnessed when India had scrapped the provisions of Article 370 in Aug 2019.
It had led to a particularly violent 2020, with as many as 5,133 CFVs of firing and artillery duels being recorded that year. In Feb 2021, the two DGMOs had reached a fresh understanding to maintain peace and tranquillity along the LoC and the 198-km international boundary in J&K. Earlier, in May 2018, a similar understanding between the DGMOs had gradually withered away with escalation in cross-border hostilities.
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