India Issues 17-Day NOTAM for Major Air Combat Exercises Near Pakistan Border

The Indian Air Force has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) reserving large stretches of airspace over western Rajasthan for military exercises from 9 a.m. on September 21 to midnight on October 7, 2026. The restrictions will temporarily limit civilian and commercial flights in designated zones close to the Pakistan border.

According to the notification, the reserved airspace covers the Jaisalmer-Barmer-Phalodi-Jodhpur sector and areas around NAL-Bikaner. Altitude limits reach approximately 40,000 feet, with one of the zones coming within about 20 kilometres of the international border.

The airspace reservation coincides with two major upcoming drills. The bilateral India-Japan exercise Veer Guardian 26 is scheduled from September 9 to 21, during which Japanese F-2 fighter jets will operate from an Indian base for the first time. This will be followed by the multinational Tarang Shakti 2026 exercise, planned in the Jodhpur region from late September into mid-October. Multiple air forces are expected to participate in joint combat training and interoperability operations.

Western Rajasthan’s desert terrain has long served as a key training area for the Indian Air Force, allowing day-and-night practice of air-to-ground strikes, air combat manoeuvres, precision targeting, and coordinated multi-platform operations.

Reports indicate that Pakistan’s defence establishment has reviewed the Indian notification and stepped up vigilance along the border. Pakistani security forces are said to be monitoring Indian Air Force activity during the notified period.

Such NOTAMs are standard international procedure for military exercises that require temporary airspace restrictions. The 17-day window is expected to see sustained aviation activity in the region as the Indian Air Force tests operational readiness and conducts large-scale combat simulations.