India and Japan are deepening their collaboration in the air force domain with Exercise Veer Guardian 2026. This bilateral drill, the second in the series, is being held at Air Force Station Jodhpur in Rajasthan between September 9 and 22, 2026.
- Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 at a Glance
- Japanese F-2 Fighters Fly from Indian Soil
- IAF and JASDF Chiefs Fly Tejas Formation Sortie
- What Aircraft Are Taking Part in Exercise Veer Guardian 2026?
- What Does Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 Involve?
- Why Is Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 Important?
- Other India-Japan Defence Exercises
- What’s Next?
The main attraction of the event this year is that Japanese F-2A aircraft are taking part in the event. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will contribute its Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale jet fighters.
Exercise Veer Guardian also gives the participating forces an opportunity to interact and understand each other’s operations.
Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 at a Glance
| Parameter | Details |
| Exercise | Veer Guardian 2026 |
| Edition | 2nd |
| Participants | Indian Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force |
| Dates | September 9–22, 2026 |
| Location | Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan |
| Duration | 14 days |
| IAF aircraft | LCA Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale |
| JASDF aircraft | F-2A fighter aircraft |
| Main focus | Advanced operational missions, mission planning and professional exchanges |
The first edition was held in January 2023 at Hyakuri Air Base in Japan. The current exercise completes an important part of the reciprocal engagement between the two air forces.
Japanese F-2 Fighters Fly from Indian Soil
The most exciting aspect of this year’s exercise is that the Japanese participants are using their F-2A jet fighters.
The warplanes were transported from Tsuiki Air Base in Japan to Jodhpur for the exercise. These are the first Japanese fighter jets to be deployed on Indian territory.
This development is important because military exercises are most useful when the participants operate in conditions and interact with unfamiliar procedures and support systems. It also follows up on the deployment of India’s Su-30MKI jet fighters to Japan during the first Veer Guardian exercise in 2023.
IAF and JASDF Chiefs Fly Tejas Formation Sortie
Another highlight of Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 was that IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita took part in a Tejas formation sortie on September 20.
Morita flew a two-seater variant of the light combat aircraft with an Indian pilot, while Singh took the lead in a separate Tejas jet. The two commanders also exchanged badges after the flight.
For Morita, the mission provided an insight into an indigenous Indian fighter jet. He remarked that the Tejas was a reflection of India’s innovative spirit and the effort that had gone into its development.
As such, the sortie was more than just a bonding exercise for the two air force chiefs. It demonstrated the high level of trust and collaboration that the IAF and JASDF have been able to build so far.
What Aircraft Are Taking Part in Exercise Veer Guardian 2026?
Both sides have deployed a mix of fighters, including some of their most advanced combat aircraft.
Indian Air Force:
LCA Tejas Su-30MKI Rafale
Japan Air Self-Defense Force:
F-2A fighter aircraft
This aircraft mix gives the participants an opportunity to interact with different planes. It also allows them to compare and learn about each other’s operational practices and procedures.
What Does Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 Involve?
According to the Ministry of Defence, the 14-day exercise involves advanced operational missions, mission planning conferences and subject matter expert exchanges. In addition, the participants are engaging in a technical interaction on engineering and aerospace safety.
This means that Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 is more than a drill for fighter pilots. Operational coordinators and engineers from the IAF and the JASDF are discussing how the two sides can cooperate on complex missions.
Both sides are also interacting with each other on a personal level. For example, the personnel from the IAF and the JASDF have participated in cultural interaction events.
Why Is Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 Important?
India and Japan have forged a comprehensive defence relationship in recent years. Apart from annual exercises, the two sides have engaged in major defence deals and joint research and development projects.
Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 takes place as both nations are strengthening their strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.
For India, this partnership provides an important supplement to its security and defence policies. As for Japan, operating fighter jets in India gives its defence forces an opportunity to gain experience in deploying aircraft over long-haul distances.
Overall, Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 does not create any formal military alliance between India and Japan. Rather, it enables the armed forces of the two nations to build higher levels of coordination and cooperation.
Other India-Japan Defence Exercises
Exercise Veer Guardian is just one element of India’s and Japan’s defence cooperation. The two nations also conduct:
• Dharma Guardian: A bilateral Army exercise on land forces
• JIMEX: The India-Japan Maritime Exercise
• Malabar: A multinational naval exercise with the United States and Australia
These exercises cover different domains (air, land and maritime) and provide the armed forces of both nations with opportunities for interaction and collaboration.
From Defence Cooperation to the Value of Discipline and Knowledge
Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 highlights how India and Japan are strengthening cooperation through joint training, operational exchanges and learning from each other’s capabilities. The exercise shows that effective teamwork depends not only on advanced aircraft and technology but also on coordination, discipline, trust and continuous learning. A similar principle can be applied to spiritual life, where progress requires the right knowledge, disciplined practice and a clear understanding of the path being followed.
According to the spiritual knowledge of Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj, scripturally supported devotion and correct spiritual knowledge are important for understanding the purpose of human life. His teachings also emphasize values such as peace, cooperation and human welfare. To learn more, visit the Annapurna Muhim YouTube channel.
What’s Next?
Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 will be winds up on September 22 at Jodhpur. The Japanese participants will be returning to their home country after the exercise.
The current exercise is only 14 days long, but it has lasting implications for India and Japan’s military relationship. By training regularly, the two air forces will become more familiar with each other’s operational procedures and build greater levels of coordination. The fact that Japan hosted India during the first round of Veer Guardian and vice versa this year shows that both sides are committed to taking their partnership to new levels.
More than just a drill for fighter pilots, Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 is therefore an important step in building military-to-military ties between India and Japan.
