IAF to hold largest NE air exercise

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to conduct a large-scale air exercise across the North East, marking its biggest drill in the region.
A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued, indicating a 22-day airspace restriction from September 25 to October 16.
The notified airspace covers sensitive zones in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur, extending over international airspace near Bhutan and Myanmar, and lies close to India’s contested border with China. According to defence sources, the high-intensity exercise will focus particularly on the Siliguri Corridor — a narrow, 22-kilometre stretch often referred to as India’s “Chicken’s Neck.” The corridor is of critical strategic importance, connecting nearly 50 million people in NE to the rest of the country, while also lying in proximity to flashpoints such as Doklam and Tawang, both of which have seen India-China clashes in recent years.
The exercise will include complex air-ground operations, integration with air defence systems, and participation from frontline aircraft stationed at key air bases.