IAF to conduct week-long aerial wargames near LAC in Uttarakhand
The exercise will involve frontline fighters and transport aircraft to test mission execution in high-altitude Himalayan terrain.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will hold a major week-long air exercise near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Uttarakhand from November 13 to 21, according to the Times of India. The drills aim to assess the ability of the IAF to carry out complex missions in high-altitude areas while keeping a rapid-response posture along the northern frontier.
The exercise will involve frontline fighters such as the Mirage-2000 and Sukhoi-30MKI. Transport aircraft including the C-295 and An-32, along with Mi-17 helicopters, are also expected to participate.
Airspace has been reserved over the plains of Punjab and the mountainous regions of Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir. The drills will cover a strategic stretch of the central Himalayan border featuring rugged mountains and narrow valleys.
The wargames will test the IAF's capacity to coordinate aircraft movements, sustain combat operations, and use forward operating locations. The use of Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) will be a key part of the operational framework to enable the movement of supplies and personnel.
The exercise may impact civil aviation, as a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued regarding temporary airspace restrictions. Some civilian flights might need to change their routes, though airlines are expected to coordinate with authorities to reduce disruption.