India Issues NOTAM for Indian Air Force Exercise Near Pakistan Border on 20–21 January 2026

New Delhi : India has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) reserving a designated block of airspace for an upcoming Indian Air Force (IAF) exercise near the southern sector of the India–Pakistan border, according to aviation notifications circulated to civil air operators.

The NOTAM will be in effect from 20 January to 21 January 2026, with the restricted airspace active from 14:30 UTC on 20 January until 18:00 UTC on 21 January. The notified zone covers parts of Gujarat and extends westward over the Arabian Sea, an area that lies close to established international and domestic civilian air traffic routes.

The reserved airspace is located opposite Pakistan and includes regions south of Ahmedabad and near Rajkot, highlighting the strategic sensitivity of the exercise area. Aviation authorities are expected to reroute civilian flights during the NOTAM window to maintain safety while military flying operations are underway.

No official details have been released regarding the scale or specific objectives of the exercise. However, airspace reservations of this size are typically associated with planned Indian Air Force training activities, which may involve fighter aircraft, support platforms, and coordinated air operations in both inland and coastal sectors.

Such NOTAMs are a routine aviation safety measure and form part of standard international practice whenever military exercises are conducted in shared airspace. They are issued well in advance to ensure coordination with civil aviation authorities and airlines and do not, by themselves, indicate any escalation.

The NOTAM is scheduled to expire on 21 January 2026, after which the reserved airspace will be reopened for normal civilian air traffic operations.