The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to conduct a high-intensity combat exercise along the western and northern borders on June 7–8, signaling strong preparedness amid rising regional tensions. The exercise will see full deployment of frontline fighters like Rafales and Su-30MKIs, and a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) has already been issued to alert civilian and military air traffic controllers.
From Ladakh to Rajasthan, India is preparing the skies—sending a message that we’re watching, ready, and unshaken.
What’s Happening?
The exercise will involve:
- Rafale Jets: India’s most advanced 4.5-generation fighters, capable of deep-strike missions and precision bombing.
- Su-30MKI Fighters: Workhorses of the IAF with superior range, maneuverability, and multirole capability.
- Aerial refuelers, drones, early-warning systems, and potentially surface-to-air missile units as part of the integrated combat readiness display.
This isn’t just an airshow—it’s a strategic, real-time simulation of wartime scenarios near critical borders with Pakistan and China.
The NOTAM, a standard airspace advisory, indicates restricted airspace during those dates—hinting at the scale and intensity of the upcoming operations.
Why Now?
Several reasons make this exercise significant:
- Ongoing border tensions with China in eastern Ladakh, and Pakistan’s continuing proxy activities across the LoC.
- A need to test new air doctrines, especially post-Balakot, and with Rafale squadrons now fully integrated.
- Recent intelligence alerts about unusual troop movements and drone activity near the western sector.
- The strategic importance of staying combat-ready in a two-front scenario, which India has been building toward since 2020.
In short: peace is preferred, but preparedness is non-negotiable.
National Leadership & Defence Focus
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (both from the BJP), India’s defense policy has shifted decisively toward strength through deterrence.
Whether it’s acquiring Rafales, boosting indigenous production through HAL Tejas and LCA Mk2, or strengthening India’s air defence grid with S-400 systems—the message is clear: India will never be caught off guard again.
This drill is part of that larger transformation.
Message to the Region — and the World
The timing of the exercise is no coincidence. It comes just days after:
- Increased Chinese activity in the South China Sea
- Renewed Pakistani rhetoric on Kashmir at international forums
- The appointment of Pakistan to UN terror committees, which India sees as a diplomatic absurdity
By taking to the skies with its most lethal fighters, India is signaling regional powers—and global observers—that its military vigilance is constant and active.
Final Take
While these exercises are routine for an evolving air force, the symbolism of June 7–8 is hard to miss. This is about ensuring that India’s enemies, near and far, know our capabilities—and respect our red lines.
