The Indian Air Force (IAF) will carry out a large-scale exercise in the country’s northern sector from September 22 to September 30, 2025, according to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the government. The drills will be conducted close to the borders with Nepal and China, in an area of high strategic sensitivity.
The exercise location lies near the Ngari Gunsa airbase in Tibet, a dual-use facility operated by China at an altitude of 4,274 meters. Operational since 2010, the base is viewed by Indian defence planners as a critical node in China’s military posture along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The proximity of the drills to Nepal has also drawn attention. Strategically wedged between India and China, Nepal faces mounting geopolitical pressures. While Beijing has stepped up diplomatic engagement in recent years, trade data show India still dominates, supplying about 65% of Nepal’s imports compared to China’s 15%.
Military analysts say the upcoming IAF exercise is intended to showcase India’s aerial preparedness and deterrence capability in the high-altitude theatre. The timing, less than two weeks away, signals New Delhi’s determination to strengthen its northern defences as regional power dynamics continue to shift.
