IAF's 2-Day Exercise In Northeast From Today Amid Fresh Tensions With China Along LAC

Sukhoi and Rafale fighter jets will likely fly in Arunachal as the Indian Air Force is slated to carry out a two-day exercise in the Northeast involving almost all its frontline fighter jets.

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force is slated to carry out a two-day exercise in the Northeast involving almost all its frontline fighter jets and other assets deployed in the region after the last week's face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh in the area ensued fresh tensions.

This exercise, to be conducted in the airspace of all the Northeastern states including Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, was planned much before the face-off between the Indian and Chinese armies and it is not related to the incident.

The Air Force has issued NOTAM i.e. Notice to Airmen//Notice to Air Missions.  

According to the inputs, the Air Force had issued NOTAM on December 8 for this exercise. Through this NOTAM, a warning has been issued regarding flying in the airspace of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam so that civil flights and civil ATC should be issued an alert regarding the excessive flight of fighter aircraft during the two days.

The Indian Air Force and the Eastern Command based in Shillong (Meghalaya) have not shared any official information regarding this exercise, but it is believed that all the airbases of the Eastern Command can participate in this exercise. These may include Tezpur, Jhabua, and Jorhat air bases in Assam. Apart from this, Hasimara and Kalaikunda of Bengal and the Advance Landing Strip of Arunachal Pradesh will mainly participate in this exercise. 

Sukhoi and Rafale fighter jets will likely fly in Arunachal. While Sukhoi fighter jets of the Air Force are stationed at Tezpur airbase, a squadron of Rafale fighter jets is stationed at Hasimara. Apart from this, Apache helicopters and transport aircraft are stationed in Jorhat. Helicopters and military transport aircraft will also participate in this two-day exercise. Apart from this, air defense systems of the Air Force can take part in the drill.

Checking IAF's Overall Combat Capability: Report

The exercise is aimed at checking the IAF's overall combat capability and military preparedness in the region, news agency PTI reported sources as saying.

The top brass of the Eastern Air Command will also undertake a comprehensive review of the IAF's preparedness in the region in view of the overall security matrix, they said.

The Army and IAF have been maintaining a high state of operational readiness along the Line of Actual Control with China in the Arunachal Pradesh and the Sikkim sector for over two years following the eastern Ladakh row.

China's Increasing Air Activities At LAC: Report

Last week, the IAF scrambled fighter jets following China's increasing air activities on its side of the LAC in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh.

The deployment of some aerial platforms including drones by China in the region preceded the Chinese attempts on December 9 to unilaterally change the status quo in the Yangtse area of the Tawang sector, PTI sources said.

According to them, a number of Chinese drones flew close to the LAC prompting the IAF to scramble the jets and increase the overall combat readiness.

On Monday, the Indian Army informed that troops from the two sides clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector and the face-off led to "minor injuries" to a few personnel from both sides".

The face-off took place amid the over 30-month border standoff between the two sides in eastern Ladakh.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament on Tuesday that the Indian troops bravely thwarted the attempt by Chinese PLA from "unilaterally" changing the status in Yangtse area of the Tawang sector and there were no deaths or serious casualties to the Indian troops in the scuffle.

"On December 9, PLA troops tried to transgress the LAC in Yangtse area of Tawang Sector and unilaterally change the status quo. The Chinese attempt was contested by our troops in a firm and resolute manner," the Defence Minister said, as quoted by PTI.

"The ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts," he added.

(With Agency Inputs)