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The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) contingent landed at Air Force Station Jodhpur ahead of the second edition of the bilateral air exercise Veer Guardian 2026.
The exercise runs from 9 to 22 September 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Japan is fielding three Mitsubishi F-2A fighters from the 8th Air Wing at Tsuiki Air Base plus about 110 personnel - the F-2's first appearance at an exercise in India.
The IAF is flying the indigenous LCA Tejas, Su-30 MKI and Rafale.
The maiden edition was held at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan, from 12 to 26 January 2023.
Air arm of the Indian Armed Forces; fielding LCA Tejas, Su-30 MKI and Rafale at this exercise
Air branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces; its F-2A is a Mitsubishi-built multirole fighter developed from the American F-16
Veer Guardian 2023, the maiden India-Japan air exercise, held at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan; the IAF sent 4 Su-30 MKI, 2 C-17 and 1 IL-78
Squadron Leader Avni Chaturvedi flew in that edition, reported as the first Indian woman fighter pilot in a bilateral exercise with a foreign partner
JASDF contingent, F-2A fighters and C-2 transports arrive at Air Force Station Jodhpur
Veer Guardian 2026 conducted at Jodhpur, with LCA Tejas, Su-30 MKI and Rafale on the Indian side
Jodhpur in western Rajasthan hosts a major IAF station close to the western desert sector, which is why large multi-aircraft exercises are staged there. The Japanese F-2As flew in from Tsuiki Air Base on Kyushu; the 2023 edition was held at Hyakuri, north-east of Tokyo.
Bilateral ARMY exercise between India and Japan
Bilateral NAVAL exercise between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Multilateral naval exercise in which Japan is a permanent participant alongside India, the United States and Australia
Format in which the foreign and defence ministers of India and Japan meet; complemented by the Defence Policy Dialogue
GS Paper 2 > International Relations > Bilateral groupings and agreements involving India
General Awareness > Defence Exercises
The ability of two forces to operate together using compatible procedures, communications and tactics
Japanese multirole fighter developed from the US F-16 and flown by the JASDF
Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the air branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces