General Takehiro Morita, Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), flew aboard India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas alongside Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh during Exercise Veer Guardian 26 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
The two air chiefs visited the Jodhpur airbase as part of the ongoing bilateral exercise between the Indian Air Force and the JASDF, aimed at strengthening operational cooperation and interoperability between the two air forces.
During the sortie, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh led the formation flying the Tejas LCA as “Eagle One”, while General Takehiro Morita flew in the twin-seat variant of the indigenous fighter aircraft.
The flight provided the visiting Japanese air chief first-hand exposure to the Tejas and highlighted India’s growing indigenous aerospace capabilities.
Exercise Veer Guardian serves as an important platform for the IAF and JASDF to exchange operational experience, improve interoperability and strengthen professional engagement between their personnel.
The joint Tejas sortie by the two air chiefs further highlighted the expanding defence and military aviation cooperation between India and Japan, as well as the growing interaction between their respective air forces.
