India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas has taken centre stage in the growing defence partnership between India and Japan during Exercise Veer Guardian-2026, with the chiefs of the two air forces participating in Tejas sorties at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
Indian Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh and Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita flew Tejas aircraft on September 20 during the ongoing bilateral air exercise. General Morita flew the twin-seat Tejas trainer with an Indian Air Force pilot, while Air Chief Marshal Singh led the formation in a Tejas fighter. The sortie provided an opportunity for senior commanders from both air forces to gain direct operational exposure and strengthen professional interaction.
General Morita described the Tejas as a symbol of India’s technological innovation and the Make in India initiative. He said the flight gave him a closer understanding of the efforts by India’s military and defence industry in developing the indigenous fighter aircraft. His participation also highlighted the growing confidence and interaction between the Indian and Japanese air services.
The Tejas sortie comes as Veer Guardian-2026 brings together frontline combat aircraft from both countries. The Indian Air Force is participating with Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale fighters, while the JASDF has deployed its F-2A aircraft. The exercise focuses on advanced operational missions, mission planning, professional exchanges, engineering and aerospace safety.
A major feature of this year’s exercise is the deployment of Japanese F-2A fighter aircraft to Indian soil for the first time during a bilateral exercise. The Japanese aircraft were deployed to Jodhpur for the 14-day exercise, marking an important practical development in India-Japan air force cooperation.
The participation of the two air chiefs in Tejas sorties adds another dimension to the exercise. Beyond flying operations, the engagement provides opportunities for the two air forces to exchange experience in operational procedures, mission planning, engineering and training. The Ministry of Defence has described Veer Guardian-2026 as an effort to enhance tactical proficiency and aerospace operational cooperation between India and Japan.
The exercise also places India’s indigenous aerospace capability in an international operational setting. General Morita’s experience flying the Tejas has drawn attention to India’s progress in developing and operating its own fighter aircraft, while the presence of Japanese F-2A fighters in India demonstrates the increasing scope of bilateral air force engagement.
Veer Guardian-2026 is the second bilateral fighter exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defence Force. The exercise, which began on September 9, is scheduled to conclude on September 22. Its combination of operational flying, professional exchanges and technical interactions reflects the expanding practical dimension of India-Japan defence cooperation.