IAF carries out major readiness exercise including supersonic flybys in J&K, Punjab border districts: Sources

Indian Air Force carried out major readiness exercise on Thursday night over Punjab and Jammu in which large number of fighter aircrafts participated. During the exercise, IAF jets, including frontline aircrafts, flew at supersonic speeds in the border districts including Amritsar.

The exercise happened after two Pakistani fighter aircrafts were flagged by Indian air defence radars as they made a supersonic flyby just over 10 km away from the Line of Control near Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday night in the Poonch sector.

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The Pakistan Air Force jets triggered a loud sonic boom which was heard all around. The two fighter jets were tracked very closely by Indian radars and didn't venture into Indian airspace, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and air defence systems being on high alert owing to the events of the last month.

The flyby doesn't constitute an airspace-violation, however, as the aircraft didn't venture within 10 km of the LoC.

READ | Pakistan Fighter Jets Attempted Midnight Supersonic Flyby Just Outside LoC, Were Tracked By IAF

On February 27, the Pakistan Air Force had attempted an incursion into Indian airspace, sending in a large complement of fighter planes - 24-strong - that ingressed into India in the Sunderbani sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The PAF fighters were intercepted by IAF fighters because of which they weren't able to accomplish their intended goal of attacking India's military installations.

On the same day as the aerial battle in Kashmir, the Pakistan Air Force had also attempted an intrusion at the Anupgarh area of Rajasthan but was thwarted. As per Republic TV's inputs, the package of the Pakistan Air Force comprised 10-12 fighter jets but the IAF's state of alertness at the time forced them to turn back

On March 4, a Pakistan drone was shot down by the IAF, with the remains landing in Pakistan-controlled territory.

READ | On day that Pak Air Force attempted to attack India in J&K, IAF also foiled another 10-12 fighter attempt in Rajasthan