Andaman and Nicobar Command holds 3-day aerial firing drill near Sri Vijaya Puram
Synopsis
India's only tri-services command — the Andaman and Nicobar Command — is running a live aerial firing drill just off Sri Vijaya Puram from 20 to 22 October, with Su-30 MKIs, MiG-29Ks, BrahMos missiles, and P-8I patrol aircraft all reportedly in play. Sitting astride the Strait of Malacca and the Six Degree Channel, the archipelago is one of India's most critical strategic outposts — and these drills signal New Delhi is keeping its edge sharp in the Indo-Pacific.
Key Takeaways
The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is conducting a three-day aerial firing exercise from 20–22 October 2026 near Sri Vijaya Puram .
A formal NOTMAR has restricted the designated area to all mariners and airmen between 10 am and 12.30 pm IST each day.
Assets reportedly involved include Su-30 MKI fighters, MiG-29K naval jets, AWACS , and P-8I maritime patrol aircraft.
Weapons systems being tested reportedly include BrahMos and Crystal Maze 2 missiles, rockets, and cannon fire.
The ANC is India's only tri-services integrated command , covering the Indian Navy , Army , Air Force , and Coast Guard .
The Andaman archipelago lies 1,200 km from the mainland and commands the strategically vital Strait of Malacca and Six Degree Channel .
The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) has launched a three-day strategic aerial firing exercise near Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, running from 20 October to 22 October 2026. The exercise, conducted between 10 am and 12.30 pm IST daily, involves aerial assets from both the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, according to sources familiar with the exercise.
NOTMAR Issued, Area Restricted
The ANC has formally issued a Notice to Mariners and Airmen (NOTMAR), directing all maritime and aviation traffic to stay clear of the designated zone during the active firing window each day. The command has not publicly disclosed granular details about the exercise, though the NOTMAR signals aerial weapons activity in the region. The restricted schedule — a precise 2.5-hour daily window — is consistent with live-firing protocols observed in past exercises.
Assets and Weapons Systems Involved
According to sources, the exercise is expected to involve Su-30 MKI multirole fighter aircraft, which are deployed on a rotational basis from Air Force Station Car Nicobar and INS Utkrosh — both of which have undergone runway extensions and modernisation to support sustained heavy-fighter operations. The MiG-29K carrier-based fighters of the Navy are also likely participants, operating alongside Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS).
Weapons systems reportedly being tested include cannon fire from fighter aircraft, as well as the launch of missiles and rockets. The ANC routinely tests advanced missile systems such as the BrahMos and the Crystal Maze 2 during localised fire drills of this kind. The P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft — armed with missiles and torpedoes — is also reportedly deployed in the area.
'Aerial assets from the mainland also participate in such exercises. There are a variety of platforms that take part and various weapons systems are tested,' an official said. The official also confirmed that mid-air refuelling is conducted during the drills, adding: 'Special skills are honed and there is complete coordination between all forces.'
India's Only Tri-Services Command
The Andaman and Nicobar Command holds a unique place in India's defence architecture as the country's only tri-services integrated command, with operational components drawn from the Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and the Coast Guard. The archipelago sits approximately 1,200 km from the Indian mainland, astride some of the world's most strategically significant sea lanes.
Strategic Significance
The ANC's location gives India a commanding vantage point over the Six Degree Channel and the Strait of Malacca — through which a large share of global maritime trade and energy supplies flows. Su-30 MKIs based here regularly fly long-range maritime patrols in coordination with friendly air forces, reinforcing India's ability to monitor and, if necessary, interdict traffic in the eastern Indian Ocean. Exercises like this one are designed to validate and strengthen India's defence preparedness in the region. Notably, such drills have grown in frequency and complexity in recent years, reflecting heightened strategic attention to the Indo-Pacific.
Point of View
Air Force jets, cruise missiles, and long-range patrol aircraft — is a deliberate signal as much as a readiness drill. The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago has emerged as India's forward sentinel in the Indo-Pacific, and the ANC has been quietly upgraded over the past decade: longer runways, more rotational deployments, and higher-tempo exercises. What gets less attention is the coordination architecture — mid-air refuelling, AWACS integration, and joint Navy-Air Force tasking. The operational depth being demonstrated here goes well beyond a routine fire drill, and the NOTMAR window itself — 20 to 22 October — coincides with a period of heightened Indo-Pacific naval activity by multiple regional powers.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Andaman and Nicobar Command aerial firing exercise?
It is a three-day strategic aerial firing exercise being conducted by the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) near Sri Vijaya Puram from 20 to 22 October 2026. The exercise involves Navy and Air Force assets, including Su-30 MKI fighters, MiG-29Ks, and P-8I patrol aircraft, and tests weapons systems such as BrahMos and Crystal Maze 2 missiles.
Why has a NOTMAR been issued for the Andaman exercise?
The ANC issued a Notice to Mariners and Airmen (NOTMAR) to keep all maritime and aviation traffic away from the designated zone between 10 am and 12.30 pm IST each day from 20 to 22 October. This is standard protocol during live aerial firing exercises to prevent accidental entry into an active weapons range.
What is the Andaman and Nicobar Command and why is it significant?
The Andaman and Nicobar Command is India's only tri-services integrated command, combining the Indian Navy, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard under a single operational headquarters. Its location, roughly 1,200 km from the mainland and adjacent to the Strait of Malacca and the Six Degree Channel, gives India a strategic foothold over some of the world's most critical sea lanes.
Which aircraft and weapons are being used in the Andaman aerial exercise?
According to sources, the exercise involves Su-30 MKI multirole fighters, MiG-29K naval aircraft, P-8I long-range maritime patrol planes, and AWACS. Weapons systems reportedly being tested include BrahMos and Crystal Maze 2 missiles, rockets, and cannon fire from fighter aircraft.
How often does the ANC conduct such exercises?
The ANC routinely organises localised fire drills that test a range of platforms and weapons systems, including advanced missiles. The frequency and complexity of these drills have reportedly increased in recent years as India steps up its strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific.
