India and Japan will hold a joint air defence exercise next month at an Air Force base in Rajasthan. The Ministry of Defence announced that the Indian Air Force and Japan Air Self Defence Force will run Exercise Veer Guardian-2026 from 9 to 22 September at Air Force Station Jodhpur. The two-week drill will involve fighter jets from both nations conducting complex flying missions and sharing knowledge on combat operations.
What aircraft and activities are involved
The Indian Air Force will field its frontline combat aircraft for the exercise. These include the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, the Su-30 MKI, and the Rafale. Japan’s Air Self Defence Force will bring its F-2A fighter aircraft to participate.
Over the fourteen days, air personnel from both countries will conduct advanced operational flying missions. Beyond the flights themselves, the exercise includes several knowledge-sharing activities. These are mission planning conferences, exchanges between subject matter experts, and interaction between engineering and aerospace safety personnel from the two forces. The focus is on building operational synergy and tactical skills between the two air arms.
What this means for you
Exercise Veer Guardian-2026 demonstrates India’s deepening military and strategic ties with Japan. Such joint exercises strengthen the professional capabilities of both air forces through shared experience and learning. For Indian citizens, this reflects the country’s active engagement in regional defence partnerships and its commitment to developing indigenous defence systems like the LCA Tejas. The exercise also underscores India’s position as a key strategic player in Asia-Pacific security cooperation.