New Delhi [India], September 9 (ANI): The Indian Air Force on Tuesday welcomed F-2 fighter jets of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) for the bilateral fight train ‘Veer Guardian 2026’.Â
Announcing the launch of the joint air defence drills, the Indian Air Force highlighted the strategic goal of the engagement.Â
In a put up on X, the media coordination centre of the IAF wrote, ‘The skies over Jodhpur are set for high-octane aerial motion because the #IAF welcomes F-2s of #JASDF for Ex Veer Guardian. Strengthening interoperability, sharpening expertise and taking Indo-Japan defence partnership to larger heights.’Â
The bilateral Air Exercise ‘Veer Guardian-2026’ between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) will start at Air Force Station Jodhpur. It will proceed until September 22, 2026.
The Indian Air Force will take part with a various mixture of frontline fight plane, together with indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Su-30 MKl and Rafale. JASDF will take part with its F-2A fighter plane, a Ministry of Defence launch stated.
During the fourteen-day train, taking part air warriors will undertake superior operational missions and have interaction in in depth skilled interactions.
The programme integrates mission planning conferences, material professional exchanges, and interplay between personnel on engineering and elements of aerospace security, fostering “deep operational synergy” between the 2 Air Forces.
“Exercise Veer Guardian-26 reflects a deepening strategic partnership between India and Japan by enhancing tactical proficiency and aerospace operational synergy. The exercise reaffirms the longstanding bonds of friendship and strategic cooperation between the two nations,” the discharge stated.
Sharing the main points in a put up on X, the Indian Air Force stated that two JASDF C-2 plane touched down at Air Force Station Jodhpur, marking the arrival of the Japanese contingent for the second version of the Exercise.
The train will additional improve interoperability, operational synergy and mutual understanding, reinforcing the enduring bonds of friendship between India and Japan.
“EXERCISE VEER GUARDIAN 26: Ex Veer Guardian 2026 is being conducted between #IndianAirForce and Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) at Jodhpur from 09 Sep to 22 Sep 26. Two JASDF C-2 aircraft touched down at Air Force Station Jodhpur, marking the arrival of the Japanese contingent for the second edition of the Exercise. The exercise will further enhance interoperability, operational synergy and mutual understanding, reinforcing the enduring bonds of friendship between India and Japan,” the media coordination centre of the Indian Air Force stated in a put up on X.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Air Self-Defence Force, in a launch earlier, stated that the aim of the train is to enhance the tactical proficiency of models and deepen the mutual understanding between the 2 air forces.
According to JASDF, “3 F-2As, 8th Air Wing (Tsuiki Air Base) and approximately 110 members” will take part from the Japanese facet. (ANI)