Jodhpur: The chiefs of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) flew together in a Tejas formation sortie at Air Force Station Jodhpur on Sunday. The sortie took place during the ongoing Exercise Veer Guardian-2026.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, the chief of the Air Staff, flew a fighter aircraft and led the formation. General Takehiro Morita, the JASDF chief of staff, flew in a trainer aircraft. Group Captain I Samrat, commanding officer of the Tejas squadron, was the captain.
The formation flew over the airfield and then carried out a peel-off manoeuvre for landing. The IAF said the sortie gave Morita a chance to experience the Tejas and its systems. It also let the two chiefs interact professionally.
“I will remember it not only as a truly valuable experience, but also as a powerful symbol of trust, confidence and friendship,” Morita said at a joint press interaction.
He said the partnership had moved beyond holding exercises together to refining tactical capabilities at a practical level. Increasingly sophisticated training had deepened cooperation, he said, and would help both sides contribute to peace and stability. He said the range of activities included exercises, exchanges at every level from senior officers to subject matter experts, and possibly cooperation in space.
Singh welcomed Morita and his contingent to India. He described the relationship as “a partnership built on mutual respect, professional trust, and shared commitment to peace and stability”. India and Japan, he said, share a vision of a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
Singh said the synergy between the two air forces was akin to Kizuna, a Japanese word for the enduring bonds between people, built on mutual trust and support. He described it as “a bond that grows stronger through shared experiences, mutual respect, and collaboration”.
Speaking about Morita’s flight, Singh said India’s defence aviation industry and research and development were now set to reach much higher levels. He called the sortie a “very clear example of how much faith and trust you have in the homegrown Indian aircraft”.
All about exercise Veer Guardian
The second edition of the exercise between the two air forces began on September 9. It is being held at Air Force Station Jodhpur and will conclude on September 22. The JASDF contingent will then return to Japan.
The IAF is taking part with the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale. The JASDF has brought F-2A fighters, which were ferried from Tsuiki Air Base in Japan. The IAF said this is the first time JASDF fighter aircraft are operating from Indian soil as part of a bilateral exercise.
The exercise includes advanced operational missions, mission planning conferences and subject matter expert exchanges. It also includes interactions on engineering and aerospace safety. Personnel from both forces also took part in cultural activities, including a yoga session on September 12.
Lieutenant General Tasaki Takehiro, commander of the JASDF’s Western Air Defence Force, visited the station during the exercise. He interacted with the participating contingents and senior IAF officers.
