Major exercise of Indian Air Force in the southern sector of India-Pak border, airspace will be reserved from 7 to 10 July. India has issued NOTAM for military exercises of the Indian Air Force from 7 to 10 July 2026 near the southern sector of the Pakistan border. According to the NOTAM issued, this exercise will start from 04:00 UTC on July 7 and continue till 16:30 UTC on July 10. During this period, airspace up to a height of 28,000 feet in the concerned area will be reserved for the exercises of the Indian Air Force. The exercise will be conducted in the southern border area adjacent to Pakistan's Rahim Yar Khan area, near Barmer in Rajasthan and Ahmedabad-Rajkot in Gujarat. Due to reservation of airspace, necessary changes can be made in the operation of civil aircraft on selected air routes during this time.
Such NOTAMs are a normal procedure for military exercises. Their purpose is to ensure the safety of military and civilian aircraft by maintaining a safe distance between them. The IAF regularly uses these temporary restrictions to conduct large-scale training activities without any disruption.
The IAF has not made public the specific details of this exercise, but such exercises generally focus on improving readiness for operations on the frontline, testing interoperability between different types of aircraft and support systems, and practicing real combat situations in strategically important border areas.
This drill is taking place at a time when the security situation in the area is changing, however, officials have described it as an annual routine training. Aviation officials have advised airlines to make necessary changes in their flight plans to avoid any disruption in the airspace of western India.
This exercise will involve a variety of IAF assets that will operate in a realistic tactical environment. This will provide an opportunity to pilots and ground crew to hone their skills in difficult airspace conditions near sensitive border areas.
