The Indian Air Force (IAF) is poised to carry out a high-stakes air drill near the Pakistan border on May 7 and 8, 2025, according to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by Indian aviation authorities. The exercise, centered around Jodhpur in Rajasthan, takes place amid rising military friction between India and Pakistan, particularly in the wake of the April 23 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, including two foreign nationals. The attack, claimed by the proscribed group The Resistance Front (TRF), has raised serious alarm over cross-border militancy and regional security.

The location of the air exercise is strategically critical. Jodhpur has emerged as a prominent military base in western India. Notably, in March 2024, the Indian Army stationed its first Apache attack helicopter squadron in the region to strengthen counter-offensive capabilities along the western frontier. The upcoming IAF maneuvers are expected to involve a range of sophisticated aerial platforms such as Rafale jets equipped with long-range Meteor missiles, Su-30 MKIs armed with R-77 beyond-visual-range missiles, and the deployment of the S-400 Triumf air defense system. These developments follow India’s multinational air exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’ hosted in Jodhpur in 2024, which featured participation from global partners like the US, France, and Australia.

Heightened hostilities have also been reported along the Line of Control (LoC), with Indian media sources noting ten successive nights of ceasefire breaches by Pakistani forces as of May 4, 2025. India has responded with calibrated military action, but the pattern underscores the fragility of the 2021 ceasefire agreement. The convergence of this air drill with reported nationwide civil defense exercises has fueled speculation among defense analysts regarding potential escalation or strategic signaling.

Adding a new dimension to the security dynamics, Pakistan has reportedly deployed the Chinese-made HQ-9 air defense system, a surface-to-air missile platform similar in range and capability to India’s S-400. The parallel modernization of air defense arsenals on both sides reflects an intensifying arms race in South Asia, amplifying the risk of misjudgments along the heavily militarized frontier.

Residents in Rajasthan may notice heightened air activity during the exercise window, as routine flight paths are expected to be temporarily altered. While Indian officials have described the drills as standard readiness operations, the timing and scale of the exercise—so close to the international border—have drawn global attention. Strategic commentators have called on both India and Pakistan to maintain open lines of communication and restraint to prevent accidental escalation between two nuclear-armed adversaries.

In a significant step towards advancing healthcare services in the Indian armed forces, Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), visited the Indian Air Force Maintenance Command (HQMC) in Nagpur today. As the first woman to hold the prestigious DGAFMS position, Sarin’s visit underscores a renewed focus on healthcare modernization, technology integration, and domestic capability building within the defence medical framework.

During her visit, Vice Admiral Sarin held detailed discussions with Air Marshal VK Garg, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Maintenance Command, focusing on current and future initiatives aimed at enhancing medical services for armed forces personnel and their families. She briefed senior officers on comprehensive plans to modernize healthcare delivery, including the incorporation of cutting-edge medical technologies and infrastructure upgrades across military facilities.

Reiterating the importance of aligning with national goals of self-reliance, Sarin emphasized the adoption of ‘Make in India’ medical equipment and technologies to reduce dependency on imports. This push aligns with India’s broader vision to expand its MedTech sector, expected to reach $50 billion by 2030.

Surgeon Vice Admiral Sarin also visited medical installations at the base, interacting with healthcare professionals and patients. She was briefed by Air Vice Marshal Avinash Das, Principal Medical Officer at HQMC, on various improvements in patient care, training modules, and facility development. Impressed by the dedication of the staff, she acknowledged their contribution to maintaining high standards in military healthcare.

Her visit coincides with the government’s increased emphasis on healthcare funding, as reflected in the Union Budget 2025–26 allocation of Rs. 99,858 crore. As DGAFMS since October 2024, Sarin is steering reforms to ensure holistic, modern, and self-reliant healthcare for the armed forces, echoing her decades of service across all three military branches.

With over 38 years of experience and advanced expertise in radiodiagnosis and radiation oncology, Sarin’s leadership is poised to transform military medical services and contribute significantly to India’s aspirations in healthcare innovation and defence preparedness.

India and Japan are poised to significantly strengthen their defense partnership with plans to co-produce advanced engines for next-generation fighter jets and tanks. The development emerged from a high-level meeting held on May 5, 2025, between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart, Gen Nakatani, at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi Cantonment.

The discussions focused on harnessing Japan’s decades-long expertise in military engine technology, particularly in the areas of aero-engines and tank propulsion systems. Japan’s established proficiency in these fields was identified as a key factor in shaping potential co-development initiatives with India’s growing defense manufacturing sector.

The meeting also encompassed broader defense cooperation themes, including maritime security, cyber defense, automation, artificial intelligence, and space technology. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, a relationship elevated in 2014 and increasingly centered on regional peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

In a notable gesture, Japan extended an invitation for India to join the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP)—a collaborative effort by Japan, the UK, and Italy to develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter jet by 2035. The project aims to compete with emerging platforms such as China’s J-36, a sixth-generation tailless concept revealed in April 2025. India’s potential participation in GCAP would mark a strategic pivot in its approach to combat aviation and international defense collaboration.

India’s interest in Japanese engine technology stems from delays and challenges in its domestic aircraft programs. While development of the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is underway, engine technology remains a critical bottleneck. With the first AMCA prototype expected within five years and setbacks in the Tejas Mark II program, foreign collaboration offers an interim path toward capability enhancement.

Japan’s Aero Engine Corporation—comprising Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries—is expected to play a central role in the proposed co-production framework. The consortium has a proven record of international collaboration, having contributed to major global engine programs including the IAE V2500, GE GEnx, and Rolls-Royce Trent 1000.

The visit also included a ceremonial element, with Minister Nakatani laying a wreath at the National War Memorial to honor India’s fallen soldiers, followed by a Tri-Services Guard of Honour. The engagements reflect the growing depth and symbolism of Indo-Japanese defense ties.

As both nations face evolving security dynamics, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, this collaborative move represents a strategic effort to leverage mutual strengths in pursuit of cutting-edge defense capabilities and regional stability.