Military chiefs visited Rajasthan’s Jodhpur Air Force Station for Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 (September 9–22). The 14-day bilateral drill highlights deepening Indo-Pacific interoperability, featuring India’s Rafale, Su-30MKI, and Tejas jets alongside Japan’s F-2A fighters—making their historic operational debut at an Indian base. Imagery from the flightline captures leadership interacting with aircrews, building on momentum from the inaugural 2023 iteration.
ANI posted on X: “Rajasthan: Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Chief of Staff, General Takehiro Morita, attend Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 is a bilateral air defense exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) taking place at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from September 9 to September 22.”
According to PTA Repoer – “Jodhpur, Rajasthan: Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita prepares for a solo sortie in Indian Air Force’s Tejas at the ongoing Indo-Japan bilateral air exercise ‘Veer Guardian-2026.’
The Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) are conducting the bilateral air exercise, with both sides participating with their frontline fighter aircraft.”
