Japan and India hold third Veer Guardian air exercise at Jodhpur

India and Japan concluded a two-week joint air training exercise at Air Force Station Jodhpur on 22 September, the third edition of the annual Veer Guardian drills.

The Indian Air Force flew Su-30MKI, Rafale and Tejas Light Combat Aircraft during the activity. Japan's Air Self-Defense Force took part with F-2A fighters, the first time the type has been sent to the subcontinent. The F-2 is derived from the Lockheed Martin F-16.

According to the account, the programme covered coordinated operations involving multiple aircraft and close-range combat missions of greater complexity than in previous years. The two air forces used the training to build familiarity between pilots and ground crews and to improve tactical interoperability across different fourth-generation fighter platforms.

The Japanese aircraft reached Jodhpur from Okinawa by way of Thailand, supported by US tankers in flight. The deployment is described as an indication of Japan's ability to move and sustain combat aircraft at distances far from home, and to operate alongside partners beyond its own borders.

Tokyo and New Delhi have agreed to make future drills more demanding and to bring uncrewed systems into them, with short-notice joint training to be arranged where practical.

The Veer Guardian exercise coincided with French Rafale R4 fighters training alongside Japanese F-2A/B aircraft at Hyakuri air base during France's PEGASE deployment, activity the French air force reported on 18 September. That training also centred on widening interoperability and multinational air operations.