Germany Deploys A400M to Jodhpur for Tarang Shakti 2026 Fighter Drills

Germany has deployed an Airbus A400M military transport aircraft to Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 in Jodhpur, where the aircraft and its crew are taking part in multinational air operations alongside fighter aircraft from several countries.

According to German Air Force Captain Maurice Berns, a first officer on the A400M, the exercise is giving the German transport crew an opportunity to operate as part of large formations and to strengthen coordination with the Indian Air Force. He said the deployment is also helping the German contingent better understand how the Indian Air Force plans and coordinates complex air operations.

The German A400M is participating in large-force engagements involving fighter aircraft, exposing the transport crew to the demands of multinational operations in which transport and combat platforms must work in close coordination. For Germany, the sortie set-up offers practical experience in working alongside fighter aircraft in a setting that mirrors the complexity of larger joint air drills.

Captain Berns described the exercise as a valuable learning experience for the German Air Force. Flying in India, he said, was providing the contingent with insights into Indian Air Force mission planning and the coordination required for complex air operations.

The participation is also aimed at improving interoperability between Indian and German fighter and transport aircraft. According to the source, interaction between participating aircrews, mission planners and support personnel is creating opportunities to exchange experience and understand each other’s procedures.

The A400M is a key part of Germany’s air transport fleet and is capable of carrying heavy cargo as well as carrying out tactical and logistics missions. Its presence at Tarang Shakti 2026 adds a transport-aircraft dimension to an exercise otherwise centred on a broad mix of combat, transport and aerial-refuelling platforms.

Foreign aircraft taking part in the exercise include the F-35 Lightning II, Rafale, F-16, A400M, MRTT, C-130, C-130J and KC-30A. The German aircraft is part of this broader multinational mix, which brings together different categories of aircraft for flying activity and professional exchange.

Tarang Shakti 2026 is being conducted under the theme “Power in Partnership”, with Australia, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh participating alongside India. The exercise builds on the inaugural Tarang Shakti held in 2024 and brings together aircrew, mission planners and operational support personnel for flying activities and exchanges.

Beyond flying, the exercise includes a range of activities intended to strengthen interoperability, aerospace safety and mutual learning. The programme also features a seminar, an industrial tour, the Sekhon Marathon, heritage visits and yoga sessions.

The participation of multiple foreign air forces allows the Indian Air Force and the visiting contingents to share operational experience while conducting multinational air activities. For Germany, the A400M deployment at Jodhpur gives transport crews the chance to train alongside fighter aircraft and understand the procedures used during large-force engagements.

In that sense, the German aircraft’s presence adds to both the operational and professional dimensions of Tarang Shakti 2026, reinforcing cooperation between German and Indian aircrews through shared flying activity, planning and interaction.