In Early February, The IAF Will Hold A Big Air Exercise In The Northeastern Region

The Indian Air Force will do a big exercise in the Northeast at the beginning of next month to test how ready it is for combat. This comes as tensions with China along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh have recently risen again.

People who are familiar with the situation said on Saturday that the “Poorvi Aakash” exercise will likely involve the IAF’s best fighter jets, like the Rafale and the Su-30MKI, as well as other assets that are already in the region.

The exercise will be done by the Eastern Air Command, which is based in Shillong.

A member of the Indian Air Force (IAF) said, “Eastern Air Command will hold its annual Command-level exercise during the first week of February.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this activity hasn’t happened in two years. The official said, “The exercise will involve activating the command’s fighter, helicopter, and transport assets to practise routine aerial drills, including joint drills.”

Tensions between India and China have gone up again since December 9, when troops from both countries fought along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Yangtse in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh.

On December 13, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament that Chinese troops tried to “unilaterally” change the status quo in the Yangtse area, but the Indian Army’s firm and determined response forced them to retreat.

In eastern Ladakh, where the two sides have been fighting over the border for over 31 months, this happened.

The exercise will include all frontline air bases and some key Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in the Northeast.

After the eastern Ladakh dispute, the army and the IAF have been keeping a high level of operational readiness along the LAC with China in the Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim sectors for more than two years.