India and Japan conduct second Veer Guardian air exercise at Jodhpur
The bilateral exercise brings together Indian Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale aircraft with Japanese F-2A fighters.
The Indian Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defence Force are conducting the second Veer Guardian bilateral exercise at Air Force Station Jodhpur from 9 to 22 September.
India is participating with Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale aircraft, while Japan is operating F-2A fighters. The official programme covers advanced missions, joint planning, expert exchanges, engineering and aerospace safety.
Why it matters
The exercise expands practical air-force cooperation and gives both sides experience operating dissimilar fighter types in a bilateral training environment.
SCULTRA point of view
Strategic significance should be assessed through repeatability, mission complexity, logistics, safety learning, after-action improvements and follow-on cooperation, not ceremonial visibility alone.
Limitations
The exercise was scheduled through 22 September and a final after-action report was not available at verification time. Aircraft and personnel counts, performance measures, detailed scenarios and readiness effects were not disclosed.
Source: Press Information Bureau / Ministry of Defence and Indian Air Force, 8 September 2026.