The Indian Air Force’s multinational Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 is set to bring together air forces from more than 40 countries at Air Force Station Jodhpur in Rajasthan from September 26 to October 12. The exercise is expected to feature advanced fighter aircraft from several participating nations, including US F-35 fifth-generation fighters, French Rafales and UAE F-16s.
According to defence officials cited in recent reports, the United States is likely to deploy two to three F-35 fighter aircraft for the exercise. If confirmed, this would mark the first participation of the F-35 in Tarang Shakti. The aircraft has previously appeared in India during the Aero India air shows in Bengaluru, including the 2023 and 2025 editions, but its participation in a multinational military exercise in India would represent a different level of engagement.
France is expected to participate with its Rafale fighters, while the United Arab Emirates is set to contribute F-16 fighter aircraft. Other participating countries are expected to provide support assets, including transport aircraft. The Indian Air Force will deploy frontline platforms such as the Rafale and Su-30MKI, supported by airborne early warning and control aircraft, transport platforms and air-to-air refuelling tankers.
The 2026 edition follows the ongoing India-Japan Exercise Veer Guardian 2026, which is being conducted at Jodhpur from September 9 to September 22. During that exercise, the IAF has operated platforms including the Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale alongside Japan’s F-2A fighters.
The Indian Air Force has announced the return of Tarang Shakti, describing it as a multinational exercise bringing global air forces together for joint tactical manoeuvres. The first edition was conducted in 2024 in two phases at Sulur in Tamil Nadu and Jodhpur.
The timing of Tarang Shakti 2026 also coincides with France’s PEGASE 26 long-range air deployment. France’s Ministry of Armed Forces said the deployment includes four Rafale fighters, three MRTT Phénix tanker aircraft and two A400M Atlas transport aircraft, with the force travelling more than 40,000 kilometres and including India among its destinations.
With F-35s, Rafales, F-16s and Indian fighter and support platforms expected to operate in the same multinational exercise, Tarang Shakti 2026 will provide a major setting for participating air forces to conduct joint training, exchange operational experience and practise coordination between different aircraft and air-support systems.