The Indian Air Force (IAF) is preparing for a significant air drill near the Pakistan border on May 7 and 8, 2025, as announced in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) from Indian aviation authorities. This exercise is set against a backdrop of increasing military tension between India and Pakistan, particularly following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 23 that resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, including two foreign nationals. The attack was claimed by the militant group The Resistance Front (TRF), raising concerns over cross-border militancy and broader regional security.
Jodhpur, the focal point of the upcoming drill, is a strategically vital military installation in western India. This location has gained prominence recently as the Indian Army established its first Apache attack helicopter squadron there in March 2024 to bolster its counter-offensive capabilities along the western frontier. The IAF’s maneuvers are expected to feature advanced aerial platforms, including Rafale jets armed with long-range Meteor missiles and Su-30 MKIs equipped with R-77 beyond-visual-range missiles. The deployment of the S-400 Triumf air defense system will also be part of the exercise. These preparations follow last year’s multinational air exercise ‘Tarang Shakti,’ held in Jodhpur, which included participation from international partners such as the US, France, and Australia.
In parallel to these developments, increased hostilities along the Line of Control (LoC) have been reported, with Indian media indicating ten consecutive nights of ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces as recent as May 4, 2025. In response, India has undertaken calibrated military actions, emphasizing the fragile state of the 2021 ceasefire agreement. The timing of this air drill coinciding with nationwide civil defense exercises has led defense analysts to speculate about potential escalations or strategic signaling between the two nations.
In a further complication to the regional security landscape, Pakistan is believed to have deployed the Chinese-made HQ-9 air defense system, a surface-to-air missile platform that mirrors the capabilities of India’s S-400 system. This parallel modernization of air defense systems on both sides highlights an escalating arms race in South Asia, raising the likelihood of miscalculations along their heavily militarized border.
Local residents in Rajasthan may experience increased air traffic during the drill, with routine flight paths likely to be modified temporarily. While Indian officials have categorized these drills as standard readiness exercises, the strategic timing and scale—given the proximity to the international border—have captured global attention. Analysts are urging both India and Pakistan to maintain open channels of communication and exercise restraint to prevent unintended escalations between these two nuclear-armed nations.
