Full Breakdown
Japanese Air Chief’s Tejas Flight Highlights Deepening India-Japan Defence Ties
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Historic Tejas Formation Sortie
On September 20, 2026, General Takehiro Morita, Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), flew a twin-seat trainer version of India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas alongside Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The two aircraft performed a formation sortie over Air Force Station Jodhpur, concluding with a peel-off maneuver before landing. The flight was part of the second edition of the bilateral air exercise Veer Guardian 2026, running from September 9 onward.
Background & Context
India and Japan have expanded defence cooperation since the first bilateral air exercise Shinyuu Maitri in 2018. This exercise marks the first deployment of JASDF F-2A fighters on Indian soil and the first time an Asian air-force chief has flown an Indian-made fighter.
Timeline
- September 8 – JASDF F-2A fighters arrive in India, commencing the 14-day exercise.
- September 9 – Veer Guardian 2026 officially begins at Jodhpur.
- September 18 – Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd delivers the final two Tejas FOC trainers to the IAF under a 40-jet contract.
- September 20 – General Morita and Air Chief Marshal Singh conduct the historic Tejas formation sortie.
- September 21 – The Indian Embassy in Tokyo releases a statement confirming the joint flight.
Data & Statistics
- Aircraft involved: IAF Tejas (single-seat and twin-seat trainer), Su-30MKI, Rafale; JASDF F-2A fighters.
- Sortie duration: Approximately 20–25 minutes.
- Exercise length: 14 days.
- Tejas generation: 4.5-generation, all-weather, multi-role fighter.
Official Statements & Responses
He highlighted the Japanese concept of kizuna—enduring bonds forged through trust—as a guiding principle for the collaboration.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As part of Exercise Veer Guardian 26, General Takehiro Morita, Chief of Staff, Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, visited Air Force Station Jodhpur and flew the indigenous Tejas fighter aircraft. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh led the formation flying the Tejas LCA as Eagle One, with the CoS JASDF flying in the twin-seater version.” — The IAF
- “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,” — Staff General Takehiro Morita
Why It Matters
The joint sortie showcases India’s indigenous aerospace capability to an international partner, reinforcing the “Make in India” narrative and demonstrating Tejas’s operational readiness. For Japan, the flight deepens interoperability with a key Indo-Pacific ally, supporting shared strategic objectives of a rules-based maritime order. The exercise also facilitates exchange of best practices in mission planning, engineering safety, and pilot training.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources concur on the core facts of the sortie; no substantive discrepancies were identified. Detailed performance metrics of the Tejas during the flight were not disclosed, leaving an information gap regarding quantitative assessment of the aircraft’s capabilities in an international operational context.
What’s Next
The Veer Guardian exercise will continue later this month, featuring advanced operational missions, planning conferences, and expert exchanges. Both air forces have indicated interest in expanding cooperation to include joint fighter-pilot training programs and potential collaborative work in the space domain.
