The joint air exercise ‘Veer Guardian-2026’ between the Indian and Japanese air forces commenced today, September 9, 2026, at Jodhpur Air Force Station in Rajasthan. This is the second edition of the bilateral air exercise between the two countries, which will continue until September 22, 2026.
In this 14-day exercise, state-of-the-art fighter aircraft from both countries will practice joint operations.
Three F-2A aircraft from Japan’s 8th Air Wing (Suiki Air Base) and approximately 110 military personnel have arrived in Jodhpur via two C-2 transport aircraft.
This time, the Indian Air Force‘s strength in Jodhpur will be represented by the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Sukhoi-30 MKI, and Rafale. On the other hand, the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) will conduct exercises with the Indian Air Force using its flagship F-2A fighter aircraft. The joint exercise of these aircraft with different technologies and combat capabilities makes this event special.
Main objectives of the exercise:
- Strengthen mutual understanding, operational coordination, and interoperability between the two air forces.
- Over the course of 14 days, air warriors from both countries will jointly conduct a variety of advanced and complex operational missions.
- Experts say that this will not only be an air exercise, but will also facilitate the exchange of experiences between the two forces on mission planning, aerospace safety, and engineering methods.
Indian Air Force organizing the three-day “Dronathon 2026”
In addition, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is also organizing the three-day “Dronathon 2026” from September 14 to 16, 2026. Its primary objective is to test the combat capability of the country’s modern drone and anti-drone technology. This ‘Dronethon-2026’ will be held at the Pokhran Range in Jaisalmer. During this Dronethon, there will not only be static displays of equipment but also live demonstrations.
The program will primarily focus on the following areas:
- Swarm Drone Technology: Using a group of multiple drones to conduct attacks or surveillance.
- Counter-Drone Systems (CUAS): Systems that shoot down or jam enemy drones mid-air.
- Electronic Warfare: Technologies related to signal jamming and hacking.
- Autonomous Operations: Autonomous drones that operate without human intervention.
- Surveillance and Reconnaissance
According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB Hindi), this initiative is fully in line with the vision of a self-reliant India. It will provide a direct platform for domestic manufacturers, defense startups, and emerging technology experts to showcase their talent and understand the needs of the Air Force.
Multilateral exercise, “Tarangshakti-2026
The Indian Air Force’s mega multilateral exercise, “Tarangshakti-2026,” is scheduled to take place at Jodhpur Air Force Station from September 21st. A 17-day NOTAM has been issued for this exercise on the western border. Eight countries will participate with their aircraft, and approximately 30 countries will join as observers. During the NOTAM, the airspace of Jaisalmer, Barmer, Phalodi, and Jodhpur sectors will be reserved for military activities.