Guwahati: The Indian Air Force will start a two-day consolidated training exercise in the Northeast on Thursday with the goal of evaluating the combat preparedness of its aircraft, according to officials.
The exercise is occurring at the same time as a face-off between Indian and Chinese troops at the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh on December 9, which was preceded by many attempts to breach airspace.
According to reports, Indian Air Force is scheduled to carry out a consolidated training exercise this week in the eastern sector where the readiness of the aircraft would be checked. The training exercise has been planned much in advance.
Reportedly, in the last few weeks, there have been two to three occasions where our fighter jets had to be scrambled to tackle the Chinese drones moving towards our positions on the LAC. The Su-30MKI jets had to be scrambled to tackle the air violation threat.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Parliament said that attempts by Chinese troops to transgress the LAC in the Yangtse area of Tawang Sector and unilaterally change the status quo were contested by Indian troops in a firm and resolute manner. “The Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts,” the minister said.
According to defence reports, Chinese drones drove very aggressively toward Indian positions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh prior to the clash, leading the Indian Air Force to scramble its Su-30MKI fighter jet aircraft in the area.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed the Rajya Sabha on December 13 that Chinese PLA troops attempted to cross the Line of Actual Control in the Yangtse region of the Arunachal Pradesh Tawang Sector and unilaterally change the status quo, but they were thwarted by prompt action by Indian military commanders and returned to their positions.
Giving a statement in the Rajya Sabha, the Defence Minister assured the Upper House that “our forces are committed to protecting our territorial integrity and will continue to thwart any attempt made on it”.