Thursday 01 / October / 2026
The recently concluded Veer Guardian 2026 air exercise between India and Japan, which ended on Sept. 22, marks a capstone moment in the defense ties between the two countries.
This upgraded bilateral exercise is a significant step forward from earlier times, when Japan and India cooperated primarily at the coast guard level.
The current edition of the Veer Guardian exercise was the second in the series, the first of which was held at Hyakuri Air Base in Japan in January 2023. During the second India-Japan 2+2 Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting, held in Tokyo in September 2022, the two countries agreed to step up bilateral defense cooperation and engage in more military exercises.
In this latest edition of the exercise, the Indian Air Force deployed a mix of aircraft, including the Su-30MKI, the French-made Rafale, and the indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft. Japan, for the first time, brought its frontline Mitsubishi F-2A, jointly developed with Lockheed in the US, to Indian shores.
Underscoring the growing strategic convergence between India and Japan in the Indo-Pacific, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on Sunday highlighted the spirit of mutual support defining bilateral air power cooperation during the ongoing joint exercise 'Veer Guardian-2026' at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
Addressing a joint statement alongside Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita, Air Chief Marshal Singh invoked an ancient Sanskrit phrase to describe the evolving bond between the two air forces.
"There is a Sanskrit expression which says 'Apatsu Mitram'—a friend in time of need. I think the spirit reflected in the relationship between the Indian Air Force and Koku-Jieitai [JASDF] is exactly the same," Singh said. “It is a partnership built on mutual respect, professional trust, and shared commitment to peace and stability.”
The 'Veer Guardian-2026' exercise marks a monumental milestone in bilateral military engagements, marking the first time Japanese fighter jets are operating directly from Indian soil.
“This exercise—especially because the Japanese fighters are operating from Indian soil for the first time—is a great milestone in the history of our relationship, in our partnership,” the IAF Chief remarked.
Recalling the previous iteration of the multinational exercise 'Tarang Shakti-24', Singh noted that bad weather over Southeast Asia had prevented Japanese aircraft from ferrying to India, though Ground support teams had arrived. “I'm very happy that we have caught up this time. And, of course... this reflects a deepening dimension of our Special Strategic and Global Partnership between the two countries,” he added.
Singh said India and Japan share a vision of a “free, open, and rule-based Indo-Pacific” and that stronger cooperation between their air forces contributes to the shared objective of both countries.
He also highlighted the evolution of cooperation between the two air forces, “from Shinyuu Maitri to Veer Guardian” and from subject-matter expert exchanges to tactical-level exercises in a complex environment.
“This exercise reflects a very high degree of trust and confidence that the two air forces have in each other. When we do exercises together, we learn from each other, we fly together, we train together, so both sides improve together,” Singh said, adding that joint exercises provide both sides an opportunity to learn from each other's operations and improve their capabilities.
“I'm sure this is going to add to our capabilities on both sides,” he added.
Singh also referred to the synergy between the two air forces as 'Kizuna', saying it was “a bond or an enduring connection, one that grows stronger through shared experiences, mutual respect, and collaborative operations.”
Earlier on Sunday, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh and JASDF Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita took off from Air Force Station Jodhpur in Tejas aircraft during the ongoing 'Veer Guardian-2026' exercise.
The IAF is participating in the exercise with frontline combat aircraft including the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale, while the JASDF is participating with its F-2A fighter aircraft.
