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India-Japan Air Force: Japanese F-2 Fighter Jets to Fly with Indian Su-30MKI in Jodhpur During Veer Guardian 2026

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Alam Ki Khabar | Bihar News | Patna News | Samastipur News | Japan is sending three F-2 fighter jets and 110 personnel to India for Veer Guardian 2026. The Japanese and Indian Air Forces will conduct joint air combat training in Jodhpur.

Tokyo, September 2: Japan is set to deploy its fighter aircraft to India for the first time, marking a significant step in the growing defence cooperation between the two countries. Three F-2 fighter jets of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), along with around 110 personnel, will travel to India to participate in the joint air exercise Veer Guardian 2026.

The Japanese aircraft will operate alongside the Indian Air Force's Su-30MKI fighter jets at Jodhpur Air Force Station in Rajasthan. The exercise is scheduled to begin on September 9 and continue until September 21, 2026.

The deployment is being viewed as an important development in India-Japan military cooperation. Both countries have been strengthening strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific region amid growing security concerns and China's expanding military activities.

Japan has announced that the contingent will come from the 8th Air Wing based at Tsuiki Air Base in Fukuoka Prefecture. The deployment will include three F-2 fighter aircraft and approximately 110 members of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force.

The Japanese fighters will undertake a long-distance journey to India. Their route will include stops at Naha Air Base in Okinawa and Thailand before reaching Jodhpur. During the journey, aerial refuelling support from US Air Force tanker aircraft is also expected to assist the Japanese formation.

For Japan, the exercise is significant because its fighter aircraft will operate from Indian soil for the first time. The move reflects the increasing level of practical cooperation between the two air forces, moving beyond diplomatic engagement towards more operational interaction.

What will happen during Veer Guardian 2026?

The main objective of Veer Guardian 2026 is to improve coordination and mutual understanding between the Indian Air Force and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. During the exercise, pilots and aircrews from both countries will train together and exchange operational experience related to aerial combat.

The exercise is expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to understand each other's operational procedures, tactical approaches and methods of conducting air missions.

Such exercises also help participating forces develop interoperability, which becomes particularly important when countries with similar strategic interests conduct operations or humanitarian and security missions together.

JASDF Chief of Staff General Takuhiro Morita has described the exercise as a valuable opportunity to strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the two air forces.

The participation of India's Su-30MKI fighters will add another important dimension to the exercise. The Su-30MKI is one of the principal fighter aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force and has been extensively used for air combat training and long-range missions.

Why is Japan sending F-2 fighters to India?

Japan's decision to send its fighter aircraft to India comes at a time when Tokyo and New Delhi are expanding defence cooperation. Japan faces security challenges in its neighbourhood, particularly because of military developments involving China and North Korea.

India, meanwhile, has its own security concerns along its borders and in the wider Indo-Pacific region. Both countries have therefore been increasing military exchanges and joint exercises.

The presence of Japanese fighters in India will allow the two air forces to train in a different geographical environment while also giving their personnel experience in operating alongside each other.

The exercise is not being described as an alliance against any particular country. However, the timing and strategic environment give the India-Japan defence relationship wider regional significance.

F-2 fighter jet: What makes it special?

Japan's F-2 is a multirole fighter aircraft developed primarily for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The aircraft is derived from the American F-16 design but incorporates a number of modifications and technologies developed specifically for Japan.

One of the notable features of the F-2 is its large composite wing. The aircraft also incorporates an indigenous active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and advanced Japanese avionics.

The F-2 was designed with Japan's specific operational requirements in mind. It has a strong emphasis on maritime strike missions and was developed to address potential threats in Japan's surrounding region.

The aircraft is also known by the nickname "Viper Zero". It entered operational service around the beginning of the 2000s and has remained an important component of Japan's fighter fleet alongside the F-15J.

The F-2's maritime strike capability is particularly relevant to Japan because the country is surrounded by important sea routes and depends heavily on maritime security.

First Japanese fighter deployment to India

Although India and Japan have conducted several military exercises and exchanges in the past, the deployment of Japanese fighter aircraft to Indian territory represents a new level of air-force cooperation.

For the Japanese pilots and support personnel, the exercise will provide experience of operating from an Indian air base and flying alongside Indian fighter aircraft.

For the Indian Air Force, the exercise will provide an opportunity to study Japanese operational practices and understand the capabilities and tactics associated with the F-2 platform.

The exercise could also contribute to greater coordination between the two countries in the wider Indo-Pacific security environment.

Growing India-Japan defence partnership

India and Japan have steadily expanded their defence relationship through bilateral exercises, military exchanges and cooperation in the maritime and air domains.

The two countries share an interest in maintaining a free, open and stable Indo-Pacific region. Their growing military engagement reflects the broader strategic importance both governments attach to regional security.

Veer Guardian 2026 is therefore more than a routine air exercise. The participation of Japanese fighter aircraft from Indian territory demonstrates the increasing confidence between the two air forces.

The successful completion of the exercise could pave the way for further operational exchanges and more complex joint training activities in the future.

The arrival of the F-2 fighters in India will also attract attention because it will give Indian aviation and defence observers a closer look at an aircraft that combines an F-16-derived airframe with Japanese-developed systems and technology.

The exercise will ultimately focus on professional military training, tactical learning and improving cooperation between the two air forces. Its broader significance, however, lies in the fact that India and Japan are increasingly seeking closer defence coordination at a time of major strategic changes across the Indo-Pacific.

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