India and Japan have further strengthened their defence and aviation cooperation with the conclusion of Exercise Veer Guardian-2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur. The bilateral air exercise brought together the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) for advanced flying missions, professional exchanges and operational interactions.
A major highlight of the exercise was the participation of the two air force chiefs in Tejas sorties. Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh led a Tejas formation flight, while Japan Air Self-Defence Force Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita flew in the twin-seat version of India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft with an Indian Air Force pilot. The sortie provided a high-level demonstration of the growing professional engagement between the two air forces.
General Morita also highlighted the significance of experiencing the Tejas firsthand. He described the aircraft as a symbol of India’s technological innovation and the country’s Make in India initiative. His flight offered an opportunity to observe India’s indigenous aerospace capability and the training environment of the Indian Air Force.
Veer Guardian-2026 also marked an important milestone for Japan’s air force presence in India. Japanese F-2A fighter aircraft operated from Indian soil during the exercise for the first time in a bilateral exercise. The JASDF fighters trained alongside Indian aircraft, including the Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale.
The 14-day exercise focused on advanced operational flying, including within-visual-range combat and coordinated multi-aircraft missions. Alongside flying activities, personnel from both countries conducted mission planning conferences, subject matter expert exchanges, engineering interactions, maintenance discussions and aerospace safety briefings. These engagements allowed the participating air forces to exchange operational experience and understand each other’s procedures and capabilities.
The conclusion of Veer Guardian-2026 adds another practical dimension to the expanding India-Japan defence partnership. The exercise provided both sides with an opportunity to train together in a realistic operational environment while developing greater interoperability between their air forces.
For India, the exercise also placed the indigenous Tejas fighter in a bilateral operational setting alongside Japanese F-2A aircraft and other frontline fighters. The participation of Japan’s senior air force leadership in Tejas sorties further brought attention to India’s growing indigenous aerospace capabilities.
With Veer Guardian-2026 now concluded, the exercise has reinforced the importance of regular air-force engagements between India and Japan. The combination of operational flying, technical interaction and professional exchanges is expected to contribute to continued cooperation between the two countries in the aviation and defence domains.
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