Japanese fighter jets operate from Indian soil for first time
Japanese fighter aircraft operating from Indian soil for the first time is a major milestone in India-Japan defence cooperation, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said in Jodhpur on Sunday. The bilateral exercise Veer Guardian-2026, held at Air Force Station Jodhpur from September 9-22, involves Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale jets along with Japan's F-2A fighters. Japanese air chief General Takehiro Morita flew a Tejas with a pilot, while Singh flew a Tejas solo.
Source
Indian Air Force (IAF) · read the original report ↗
Desk check · compared with the source
What the desk checked (4)
- Japanese fighter aircraft are operating from Indian soil for the first time. — Attributed to Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, stated at a press conference in the source.
- Veer Guardian-2026 is being held at Air Force Station, Jodhpur from September 9-22 and involves Tejas, Su-30MKI, Rafale and Japanese F-2A fighters. — Dates, venue and aircraft types appear directly in the source text.
- Japanese Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Gen Takehiro Morita flew a Tejas with a pilot; Singh flew a Tejas solo. — Stated in source as part of the exercise sorties; no independent confirmation possible.
- A large number of Tejas aircraft have been ordered, with some deliveries hit by global supply-chain issues. — Attributed to Singh; no specific numbers given in the source.
Analysts’ view opinion
Japanese F-2A jets flying out of Jodhpur is more than a technical drill — it is an Indo-Pacific political signal. Both Delhi and Tokyo get to show that their partnership has moved from exercising together to being able to deploy together, which is diplomatic capital for governments in both capitals. The Japanese air chief flying a Tejas and calling it a symbol of 'Make in India' adds extra value at a time when indigenous defence manufacturing is a core political narrative for the Indian government.
- The 'first time' framing is itself the political message — deployment capability carries more messaging value than a routine exercise.
- Praise for Tejas from a visiting air chief functions as external validation of India's indigenous defence manufacturing and export pitch.
- This fits India's multi-alignment strategy: deepening military closeness with like-minded states without entering a formal alliance.
- The air chief's candid acknowledgement of global supply-chain delays in Tejas deliveries is the politically vulnerable flank, inviting domestic scrutiny of production timelines.
- Such steps can invite regional interpretation, though the story names no target country and the official language stays focused on peace and stability.
What to watch — Watch whether this milestone stays confined to exercises or converts into follow-through — defence agreements, foreign interest in Tejas, and high-level India-Japan diplomatic engagements in the coming months.
The story covers one exercise and official statements only; it establishes no new agreements, no Tejas export prospects and no formal strategic alignment.
Deep dive
Research brief · 8 facts · 3 dates · exam-readyThe brief
Context
Veer Guardian is the bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Its 2026 edition is being held at Air Force Station Jodhpur from September 9-22, and marks the first time Japanese fighter aircraft are operating from Indian soil. Air Chief Marshal A P Singh and Japanese Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita both flew the indigenous Tejas during the exercise, framing it as a milestone in the two countries' deepening defence partnership in the Indo-Pacific.
Key facts
- Veer Guardian-2026, the India-Japan bilateral air exercise, is being held at Air Force Station Jodhpur from September 9-22 — a 14-day exercise.
- Japanese fighter aircraft are operating from Indian soil for the first time, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said on Sunday, September 20.
- IAF frontline aircraft participating include the indigenous Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale; Japan has deployed Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2A fighters.
- Japanese Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita flew a Tejas jet with a pilot; Air Chief Marshal Singh flew a Tejas solo.
- The two air chiefs observed a badge exchange as a gesture of mutual respect and partnership.
- Morita said the deployment of Japanese fighters to India demonstrated the ability to deploy air assets across the Indo-Pacific region.
- Morita described Tejas as a symbol of India's technological innovation embodying the 'Make in India' initiative.
- Singh said a large number of Tejas aircraft had been ordered but some deliveries were affected by global supply-chain issues; Tejas MK-2, an advanced medium combat aircraft, would take Indian defence aviation and R&D to 'much higher heights'.
Timeline
- September 9, 2025Veer Guardian-2026 begins at Air Force Station, Jodhpur, with IAF Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale and JASDF F-2A fighters.
- September 20 (Sunday)Japanese air chief Morita flies a Tejas with a pilot; Air Chief Marshal Singh flies a Tejas solo; badge exchange and press conference at Jodhpur.
- September 22Scheduled conclusion of the 14-day bilateral air exercise.
Who has a stake
- Indian Air Force — Hosts the exercise, showcases indigenous Tejas alongside Su-30MKI and Rafale, and gains exposure to Japanese operational practices.
- Japan Air Self-Defense Force — First deployment of its F-2A fighters to Indian soil, demonstrating power projection and sustained cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.
- Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, IAF chief — Flew Tejas solo; framed the exercise as a milestone in the India-Japan strategic partnership.
- General Takehiro Morita, JASDF Chief of Staff — Flew Tejas with a pilot; said advanced training builds mutual understanding, trust and practical cooperation.
- India's domestic defence industry — Tejas gets international validation as a 'Make in India' product; Tejas MK-2 development seen as boosting defence aviation R&D.
- Indigenous fighter programme timelines — Large Tejas orders placed, but some deliveries affected by global supply-chain issues.
Why it matters
The first-ever operation of Japanese fighters from Indian territory signals that India-Japan defence ties have moved beyond symbolic exercises to actual cross-region deployment of combat air assets in the Indo-Pacific. It also gives India's indigenous Tejas a visible endorsement from a partner air chief, linking strategic diplomacy to the Make in India defence push. For both air forces, joint sorties and exchanges on mission planning, engineering and aerospace safety build interoperability and trust.
UPSC angle
Prelims pointers
- Veer Guardian is the India-Japan bilateral air exercise; the 2026 edition was held at Air Force Station Jodhpur, September 9-22.
- Participating aircraft: IAF Tejas, Su-30MKI, Rafale; Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2A.
- Air Chief Marshal A P Singh is the Indian Air Force chief; General Takehiro Morita is JASDF Chief of Staff.
- First instance of Japanese fighter aircraft operating from Indian soil.
- Tejas is India's indigenous light combat aircraft, linked to the 'Make in India' initiative; Tejas MK-2 is described as an advanced medium combat aircraft.
- Exercise activities included advanced operational missions plus discussions on mission planning, engineering and aerospace safety.
Mains framing
Veer Guardian-2026 illustrates how India's defence diplomacy has shifted from confidence-building symbolism to operational substance: for the first time Japanese F-2A fighters flew from an Indian base, which the JASDF chief described as proof of its ability to deploy air assets across the Indo-Pacific. The drivers are a convergence of interests in a rules-based Indo-Pacific, the need for interoperability among like-minded air forces, and India's ambition to position indigenous platforms as credible partners — the Japanese air chief flying a Tejas and calling it a symbol of 'Make in India' carries both strategic and industrial signalling value. The implications extend to logistics and sustainment of foreign deployments on Indian soil, shared learning on mission planning, engineering and aerospace safety, and the diplomatic message of a deepening strategic partnership. The constraint, as the IAF chief himself acknowledged, is capability delivery: large Tejas orders exist but global supply-chain disruptions have delayed deliveries, making Tejas MK-2 and a resilient domestic aerospace supply base central to the way forward. A calibrated approach would combine more frequent, more complex joint exercises with faster indigenisation and supply-chain de-risking so that diplomatic milestones are matched by fleet strength.
Key terms
- Veer Guardian-2026
- The India-Japan bilateral air exercise held at Air Force Station Jodhpur from September 9-22, spanning 14 days.
- Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF)
- Japan's air arm, headed by Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita, which deployed F-2A fighters to India.
- F-2A
- The Japanese fighter aircraft deployed for the exercise — the first Japanese fighters to operate from Indian soil.
- Tejas
- India's indigenous fighter aircraft, described by the Japanese air chief as a symbol of Indian technological innovation and 'Make in India'.
- Tejas MK-2
- An advanced medium combat aircraft under development, which the IAF chief said would lift India's defence aviation and R&D to higher levels.
- Make in India
- India's domestic manufacturing initiative, invoked in the story with reference to the indigenous Tejas programme.
Practice questions
- Joint military exercises have become a central instrument of India's defence diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific. Examine this with reference to India-Japan air cooperation.
- Indigenous platforms such as Tejas are increasingly showcased in bilateral exercises. Discuss how supply-chain vulnerabilities affect India's self-reliance goals in defence aviation.
- What does the first operation of Japanese fighter aircraft from Indian soil signify for interoperability and power projection in the Indo-Pacific?
Grounded only in the source report — figures and dates are the source's, not inferred.