Veer Guardian 2026: IAF-Japan Air Exercise Ends at Jodhpur

The bilateral air exercise Veer Guardian 2026 between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) came to a close at Air Force Station Jodhpur on 22 September 2026. The Ministry of Defence described the drill as an important platform for building interoperability between the two air forces and for deepening the strategic partnership between India and Japan.

Which aircraft took part

The IAF fielded a mixed package of fighters for the drill. It included the Su-30 MKI, the Rafale and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. The JASDF brought its F-2A fighter to Jodhpur. Putting the home-built Tejas into the air alongside a foreign air arm gave the exercise an added showcase value for India's own fighter programme, and it let Japanese crews see the aircraft at work rather than on display.

How long it ran and what was practised

The joint training ran for 14 days. Crews from both sides flew advanced missions that covered within visual range combat and coordinated multi-aircraft packages. Flying of this kind tests how well two air forces that use different aircraft, different radios and different drills can share the same airspace safely and still complete a mission together.

Distinguished Visitor's Day

A highlight of the exercise was Distinguished Visitor's Day. General Takehiro Morita, Chief of Staff of the JASDF, and Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, visited Air Force Station Jodhpur together. Both air chiefs flew the indigenous Tejas fighter during the visit, a detail worth remembering because it links the exercise directly to India's own aircraft.

Engagements on the ground

• Subject matter expert exchanges between IAF and JASDF personnel
• Operational discussions and mission planning conferences
• Engineering interactions and maintenance practice
• Aerospace safety briefings covering procedures on both sides

These ground engagements let the two contingents study each other's best practices and unique capabilities at close quarters. The Ministry of Defence said the exercise stands as a testament to the enduring friendship and professional camaraderie between the two air forces, and that it opens the way to wider collaboration and greater strategic depth in the defence relationship between India and Japan.