Why in the News?
- Exercise Veer Guardian 2026, a bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF), concluded on 22 September 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
Key Highlights
- Participants: Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF).
- Duration: 14 days.
- Venue: Air Force Station Jodhpur.
- Indian aircraft: Su-30 MKI, Rafale and indigenous LCA Tejas.
- Japanese aircraft: F-2A fighter aircraft.
- Focused on:
- Within Visual Range (WVR) combat
- Coordinated multi-aircraft missions
- Enhancing interoperability between the two air forces.
- General Takehiro Morita, Chief of Staff, JASDF, and Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, visited the exercise.
- Both officials flew the indigenous Tejas fighter aircraft.
Strategic Significance
- Strengthens India-Japan defence cooperation.
- Enhances interoperability and operational coordination.
- Deepens the strategic partnership between the two countries.
- Provides exposure to each other’s operational procedures, maintenance practices and capabilities.
Prelims Quick Revision
- Exercise: Veer Guardian 2026
- Countries: India and Japan
- Air forces: IAF and JASDF
- Venue: Air Force Station Jodhpur
- Duration: 14 days
- IAF aircraft: Su-30 MKI, Rafale, LCA Tejas
- JASDF aircraft: F-2A
- Key focus: WVR combat and coordinated multi-aircraft missions
UPSC Prelims Trap
- Veer Guardian is a bilateral India-Japan air exercise, involving IAF and JASDF.
- Tejas was deployed by the IAF, while F-2A was deployed by the JASDF.
- The exercise was conducted at Jodhpur, not in Japan.
- Do not confuse WVR combat with beyond-visual-range combat.
