Air chiefs of India, Japan fly in Tejas during exercise Veer Guardian

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal AP Singh (left) with Japan Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita (right) during the joint air exercise ‘Veer Guardian 2026’, at Air Force Station, in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, on September 20, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh and his Japanese counterpart Gen Takehiro Morita on Sunday (September 20, 2026) flew in separate Tejas jets, India’s homegrown fighter aircraft, as part of a formation sortie during an ongoing bilateral air exercise in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur.

While Air Chief Marshal Singh flew solo in a Tejas fighter jet, the Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) “flew in a Tejas (trainer aircraft) along with an IAF pilot who is commanding a Tejas unit”, a senior official said.

CAS Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, JASDF Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita and others during Exercise Veer Guardian-2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

The “Tejas formation sortie” was undertaken by the two chiefs during the India-Japan air exercise ‘Veer Guardian’ and lasted about 20-25 minutes, the official said.

Air Chief Marshal Singh, who led the formation sortie, said that the JASDF chief’s decision to fly in Tejas is “a very clear example” of his trust in the country’s homegrown aircraft.

Gen. Morita flew in the trainer aircraft, with the IAF pilot as the captain. The formation flew over the airfield and subsequently carried out a peel-off manoeuvre for landing, the senior official cited above said.

‘Veer Guardian’ is the second bilateral exercise between the IAF and JASDF, also known as Koku Jieitai.

Exercise Shinyuu Maitri, the first bilateral air exercise involving the two air forces, was held in 2018 in India.

The two air chiefs later addressed the media and shared the significance of such exercises in building interoperability and strengthening defence partnerships between India and Japan. India’s Tejas and Japan’s F-2A fighter aircraft, parked on the runway, formed the backdrop.

Gen. Morita said, “Air Chief Marshal Singh, it is a privilege to be with you today, and I would like to show my appreciation for your warm welcome and hospitality. I am deeply grateful for the invaluable opportunity to fly in the Tejas. As an aircraft born from indigenous defence capabilities, Tejas stands as a symbol of India’s technological innovation and embodies the Make in India initiative.” He said that during the sortie, he reflected on the efforts of many people, both in the military and in industry, who have contributed to the development of this fighter jet.

“Through this experience on board, I gained a first-hand appreciation of the outstanding training environment available to the Indian Air Force and the tremendous value that this exercise provides to the Japan Air Self-Defence Force, Koku Jieitai,” Gen. Morita said.

It is the second bilateral air combat exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defence Force. | Photo Credit: PTI