JASDF Chief General Takehiro Morita Flies Tejas With IAF Chief AP Singh in Jodhpur

General Takehiro Morita, Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), flew aboard India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas with Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh during Exercise Veer Guardian 26 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.

The sortie came as part of the ongoing bilateral exercise between the Indian Air Force and the JASDF, which is intended to deepen operational cooperation and improve interoperability between the two air forces. The Japanese air chief and the Indian Air Force chief visited the Jodhpur airbase during the exercise, using the opportunity to observe and participate in a joint flying activity.

During the flight, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh led the formation in the Tejas LCA as “Eagle One”, while General Morita flew in the twin-seat variant of the aircraft. The engagement placed the visiting Japanese chief in the cockpit of an Indian-built fighter and gave him first-hand exposure to the Tejas platform.

The flight also drew attention to India’s indigenous aerospace capability, with the Tejas serving as a visible example of the country’s domestic fighter development programme. For the Indian Air Force, the joint sortie offered a high-profile demonstration of the aircraft in a bilateral setting involving a senior foreign military visitor.

Exercise Veer Guardian provides a regular platform for the IAF and JASDF to share operational experience, build familiarity with each other’s procedures and strengthen professional engagement between personnel. The exercise is also used to enhance practical cooperation in the air, making it relevant not only for training but also for broader defence ties between India and Japan.

The joint Tejas sortie by the two air chiefs further underscored the expanding military aviation collaboration between the two countries and reflected the growing interaction between their air forces during the exercise.