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4 clusters · 20 sources · 7 days · First seen · Last updated

India-Japan bilateral air combat exercises

Overview

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) have commenced the second edition of their bilateral air combat exercise, Veer Guardian 2026. Held at the Jodhpur Air Force Station in Rajasthan from September 9 to September 22, 2026, the drill follows the inaugural 2023 exercise held in Japan.

A notable feature of this iteration is the unprecedented deployment of Japanese Mitsubishi F-2A multi-role fighters to an Indian air base. The Japanese contingent includes approximately 110 personnel from the 8th Air Wing, supported by Kawasaki C-2 transport aircraft. The IAF is participating with frontline fighter aircraft, including the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Su-30MKI, and Rafale.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stated that the deployment symbolizes the “deepening of defense ties between the two nations.” Officials noted that sending combat aircraft to like-minded countries serves as a deterrent and demonstrates the depth of these strategic relationships. The joint training aims to enhance interoperability, operational synergy, and mutual understanding through advanced operational missions, mission-planning conferences, and technical exchanges regarding aerospace safety and engineering.

In a related development, the IAF will host Dronathon 2026 at the Pokhran range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, from September 14 to 16. This event provides a platform for domestic manufacturers and start-ups to showcase unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-drone technologies. The IAF intends to conduct live operational trials to evaluate capabilities in surveillance, reconnaissance, swarm technologies, and electronic warfare, supporting India’s objective of increasing self-reliance in military manufacturing.

Entities

Japan Air Self-Defense Force · Indian Air Force · Jodhpur Air Force Station · GE Aerospace · Mitsubishi F-2A

Timeline

  1. 1 day ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Japan and India conduct joint Veer Guardian 2026 military exercises

    Japan's ASDF F-2 fighter jets have arrived in India for the Veer Guardian 2026 exercise, aiming to strengthen defense cooperation and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region.

  2. 4 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 8 sources
    India and Japan launch Veer Guardian 2026 air exercise in Jodhpur

    India and Japan have launched the ‘Veer Guardian 2026’ bilateral air exercise in Jodhpur, featuring F-2 and LCA Tejas fighter jets to enhance strategic interoperability.

  3. 7 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Japan and India launch Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 in Jodhpur

    India and Japan have launched Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 in Jodhpur, featuring the first-ever deployment of Japanese F-2A fighter aircraft to an Indian air base to enhance military interoperability.

  4. 8 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 10 sources
    Indian Air Force conducts Dornier-228 drill and prepares for India-Japan air exercise

    The IAF conducted a Dornier-228 ‘Elephant Walk’ drill, GE Aerospace delivered three more engines for the Tejas Mk1A programme, and India and Japan prepare for the Veer Guardian 2026 air combat exercise.

Sources

bhaskarhindi.com · bhaskarlive.in · defence.in · desitalkchicago.com · english.mathrubhumi.com · english.publictv.in · escenariomundial.com · indiandefensenews.in · indiastrategic.in · ipc.digital · latestly.com · newindianexpress.com · newsable.asianetnews.com · punjabkesari.com · samacharnama.com · ssbcrack.com · tfipost.com · thecsrjournal.in · tradebrains.in · visiontimes.fr

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history