The sortie flown by Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas reflects the confidence and trust placed in India’s homegrown fighter aircraft, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh said on Sunday.
Addressing a joint statement at Air Force Station Jodhpur during the ongoing India-Japan air exercise Veer Guardian 2026, Air Chief Marshal Singh said General Morita’s experience flying the Tejas could also open avenues for greater bilateral cooperation between the two air forces, including possible exchange programmes related to fighter aircraft training.
Earlier in the day, Air Chief Marshal Singh and General Morita took off from Air Force Station Jodhpur in Tejas aircraft during the bilateral exercise. The sortie provided a high-level demonstration of the operational engagement between the Indian and Japanese air forces and added a significant dimension to the ongoing exercise.
The IAF Chief described Veer Guardian 2026 as more than a conventional military exercise, saying it represented another step in the expanding partnership between the two air forces. He highlighted the opportunities provided by the engagement for mutual learning, improved interoperability and stronger professional ties between Indian and Japanese air warriors.
The participation of the JASDF chief in the Tejas sortie is particularly notable in the context of the exercise, which brings together fighter aircraft and personnel from both countries for operational interaction. According to the IAF, the engagement is intended to strengthen cooperation and interoperability between the two air forces.
Air Chief Marshal Singh also emphasised that the relationship between the Indian Air Force and the Koku-Jieitai, the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force, is institutional in nature and extends beyond individual officeholders.
With his retirement from the post of IAF Chief expected in about a month, Air Chief Marshal Singh said the transition would not affect the longstanding relationship between the two air forces. He underlined that the Indian Air Force is an institution larger than any individual and expressed confidence that his successors would continue to build on the existing relationship with Japan.
The IAF Chief also thanked General Morita for participating in Veer Guardian 2026 as a distinguished visitor, saying his presence had elevated the level of the exercise.
The ongoing exercise provides the two air forces with an opportunity to operate alongside each other and gain experience through interaction between their personnel and platforms. Such engagements are intended to improve understanding of operational procedures and develop greater interoperability between the participating forces.
For India, the exercise also provides an international setting for the indigenous Tejas to operate alongside advanced fighter platforms from a partner air force. The IAF is participating in Veer Guardian 2026 with LCA Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale fighter aircraft.
The Japanese side is participating with F-2A fighter aircraft, bringing together aircraft and aircrew from two air forces with different operational experiences and equipment backgrounds.
The presence of Tejas in the exercise forms part of India’s broader participation in international air exercises, where indigenous platforms operate alongside aircraft of partner nations. The sortie involving General Morita further brought the aircraft into the direct interaction between the senior leadership of the two air forces.
The exercise is also contributing to the broader professional relationship between India and Japan, with both sides seeking greater cooperation through operational engagements, knowledge sharing and training opportunities.
Air Chief Marshal Singh’s remarks indicate that the scope of this cooperation could extend beyond individual exercises, particularly in areas such as fighter training and exchange programmes. Such exchanges can provide opportunities for aircrew and personnel from both sides to gain exposure to each other’s operational practices and training methodologies.
Veer Guardian 2026 thus serves both an operational and relationship-building purpose, with the participation of senior leadership adding further weight to the engagement. The Tejas sortie by the JASDF chief, in particular, has highlighted the increasing level of interaction between the two air forces while placing India’s indigenous fighter at the centre of a high-profile bilateral engagement.
