JASDF Chief’s Tejas Sortie Highlights Trust in India’s Indigenous Fighter, Says IAF Chief
Japan Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita flew in India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas on Sunday during the ongoing India-Japan air exercise Veer Guardian 2026, in a development the Indian Air Force said reflected confidence in the fighter and could lead to wider cooperation between the two air forces.
Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, speaking at Air Force Station Jodhpur, said the sortie by the Japanese service chief in the Tejas was more than a ceremonial gesture. He described it as a sign of trust in India’s homegrown combat aircraft and said it could help create new avenues for bilateral engagement, including possible exchange programmes in fighter training.
Earlier in the day, Air Chief Marshal Singh and General Morita took off from Jodhpur in Tejas aircraft as part of the exercise. The flight placed the two senior commanders in the cockpit of the Indian fighter and gave the bilateral drills a visible demonstration of the operational ties developing between the Indian and Japanese air forces.
Veer Guardian 2026, according to the IAF chief, is not just a standard military exercise but another step in a growing partnership between the two air forces. He said the interaction offers scope for mutual learning, better interoperability and stronger professional links between Indian and Japanese air warriors.
The participation of the JASDF chief in the Tejas sortie stands out because the exercise brings together fighter aircraft and personnel from both countries for direct operational interaction. The IAF says such engagements are meant to deepen cooperation and improve the ability of the two forces to work together effectively.
Air Chief Marshal Singh also stressed that the relationship between the Indian Air Force and the Koku-Jieitai, as the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force is also known, is institutional rather than personal. His comments came as he noted that his retirement as IAF chief is expected in about a month, but said the transition would not alter the long-standing ties between the two services.
He said the Indian Air Force is larger than any individual and expressed confidence that his successors would continue strengthening the relationship with Japan. Singh also thanked General Morita for taking part in Veer Guardian 2026 as a distinguished visitor, saying his presence had raised the profile of the exercise.
The ongoing drill gives both air forces an opportunity to operate alongside each other and learn through direct interaction between aircrew and platforms. Such exercises are designed to improve understanding of operational procedures and build greater interoperability between participating forces.
For India, the participation also places the indigenous Tejas in an international setting alongside advanced fighter aircraft from a partner nation. The Indian Air Force is taking part in Veer Guardian 2026 with the LCA Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale fighter aircraft.
The Japanese side is fielding F-2A fighter aircraft, bringing together aircraft and aircrew with different operational backgrounds and equipment. The combination allows both sides to compare procedures, exchange experience and broaden their understanding of each other’s capabilities.
The Tejas sortie involving General Morita also formed part of India’s broader practice of showcasing indigenous platforms in international air exercises, where they operate alongside aircraft from partner countries. In this case, the flight brought the Tejas into direct engagement with the senior leadership of the Japanese air force.
Beyond the exercise itself, Air Chief Marshal Singh said the engagement points to a broader professional relationship between India and Japan, built around operational cooperation, knowledge sharing and training opportunities. He indicated that the scope for collaboration could extend to fighter training exchanges and other programmes that allow personnel from both sides to learn from each other’s methods.
With senior commanders flying together in the Tejas and both air forces participating with front-line aircraft, Veer Guardian 2026 has taken on a significance that goes beyond routine drills. The exercise has placed India’s indigenous fighter at the centre of a high-profile bilateral engagement while highlighting the expanding interaction between the Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
