India Issues Arabian Sea NOTAM (Apr 27–30) and Deploys INS Dhruv — 'Battle of NOTAMs' Escalates

India issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on April 27, 2026 establishing a large restricted zone along its western seaboard near Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka, valid through April 30, with altitude restrictions in some sectors reaching nearly 70,000 feet — strongly suggesting BrahMos supersonic missile or SSBN-launched weapon testing. Simultaneously, India deployed the missile-tracking and ocean surveillance vessel INS Dhruv into the Arabian Sea to collect telemetry, radar signatures, and electronic emissions data from Pakistan's concurrent missile testing program. The deployment, made hours before Pakistan's declared test window, converts the Arabian Sea into an active intelligence contest. INS Dhruv — built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited and equipped with AESA radars and long-range sensors — is one of India's most valuable maritime intelligence assets and directly supports India's Ballistic Missile Defence programme. Regional analysts are describing this as the 'Battle of NOTAMs': both India and Pakistan issuing overlapping maritime exclusion notices in April 2026 as calibrated strategic messaging below the threshold of open conflict. India's April 27–30 NOTAM was the larger zone, with coverage significantly broader than Pakistan's concurrent notices, establishing dominance in the maritime signaling competition.