New Delhi, May 6: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched a high-intensity two-day war game along the Pakistan border, just weeks after the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. The exercise, starting Wednesday, will involve the IAF’s top combat aircraft, including Rafale, Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Mirage 2000, and the indigenous Tejas, alongside AWACS surveillance planes.
The air drills aim to simulate real-time enemy engagement, with fighter jets conducting both offensive and defensive maneuvers targeting simulated ground and aerial threats. A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) has already been issued for the region, covering large sections of airspace along the western and southern sectors of the Indo-Pak border.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following a key meeting with Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, has granted the armed forces full operational freedom to determine India’s military response to the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives. This green light has significantly escalated the level of military preparedness and intensity of the current air operations.
Sources indicate the drill is not just a show of strength but also part of a broader strategic reassessment of India’s air defense capabilities in volatile regions. The focus is not only on precision strikes but also on operational coordination between various platforms, underscoring India’s commitment to rapid and calculated retaliation when necessary.
This is one of the IAF’s most extensive peacetime exercises in recent times, marking a clear signal of deterrence amid growing regional security concerns.
