Veer Guardian 2026: IAF to Study Japan's F-2 Fighters During Joint Air Exercise

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) are set to conduct Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 from September 9 to 21 at Jodhpur Air Force Station. The bilateral air exercise is aimed at improving operational coordination, interoperability and tactical understanding between the two air forces, according to a report by The Week. The exercise is particularly significant for India as Japanese Mitsubishi F-2A fighter aircraft are expected to operate from Indian soil for the first time. The Japanese contingent has already started arriving in India, with two JASDF C-2 transport aircraft reportedly landing ahead of the main exercise.

The IAF has said the exercise will help enhance interoperability, operational synergy and mutual understanding between Indian and Japanese aircrews. It also comes against the backdrop of steadily expanding defence cooperation between New Delhi and Tokyo, particularly in areas such as maritime security, military training and strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

According to reports, three Japanese F-2A fighters will participate in the exercise. Their deployment is noteworthy because this will be the first bilateral air combat exercise in India involving Japanese fighter aircraft. The presence of the F-2 is also expected to attract considerable attention from Indian aviation and defence circles because of the aircraft's connection to the American F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The Mitsubishi F-2 was jointly developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin and is based on the F-16 design. However, describing it simply as a Japanese F-16 would be misleading. Japan made extensive modifications to the aircraft, resulting in a larger and significantly different fighter with its own avionics, flight-control systems and mission capabilities.

The connection to the F-16 nevertheless makes the F-2 particularly interesting for the Indian Air Force. Pakistan operates a sizeable fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons, which form an important part of the Pakistan Air Force's combat capability. Training with the Japanese F-2 could therefore give Indian pilots an opportunity to gain additional familiarity with an aircraft that shares the aerodynamic heritage of Pakistan's F-16 fleet.

The relevance of such training has also increased following reports concerning the use of Pakistani F-16s during the India-Pakistan military confrontation associated with Operation Sindoor. While the F-2 cannot be considered an exact substitute for a Pakistani F-16, exposure to its flight characteristics and systems could still provide useful insights during dissimilar air combat training.

The F-2 differs from the F-16 in several important ways. Its wing is approximately 25 per cent larger, while the aircraft also has a longer fuselage and enlarged horizontal stabilisers. The larger wing provides additional fuel capacity and supports greater weapons-carrying flexibility, giving the aircraft improved endurance and payload options compared with the original F-16 design.

Another major feature of the F-2 is its radar. The aircraft was the first production fighter to enter service with an Active Electronically Scanned Array, or AESA, radar. This technology provides advanced capabilities for detecting, tracking and engaging targets and gives Indian pilots an opportunity to train against a sophisticated sensor configuration.

Japanese-developed systems further distinguish the F-2 from the F-16. The aircraft uses indigenous fly-by-wire flight controls and an integrated electronic warfare suite. These systems can create a different training environment for Indian aircrews, particularly when practising operations involving radar detection, electronic countermeasures and contested electromagnetic conditions.

The F-2 was designed as a multi-role fighter capable of conducting both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions. However, its design places considerable emphasis on maritime strike and coastal defence. That operational focus makes the aircraft particularly relevant to the wider security environment of the Indo-Pacific, where maritime surveillance and the ability to respond to sea-based threats are increasingly important.

The exercise will provide an opportunity to conduct dissimilar air combat training with an aircraft that Indian pilots do not routinely encounter. Such exercises allow aircrews to study different aircraft performance characteristics, sensors, electronic warfare systems and tactical approaches. This kind of experience can help pilots become more adaptable when dealing with unfamiliar threats. At the same time, Veer Guardian 2026 carries importance beyond the tactical level. The deployment of Japanese fighter aircraft to India demonstrates the growing depth of defence engagement between the two countries. India and Japan have steadily expanded military cooperation in recent years, including through bilateral exercises and broader discussions on regional security.

The exercise therefore serves both operational and strategic objectives. For the IAF, it offers valuable exposure to a distinctive fighter platform and advanced Japanese systems. For India and Japan, it provides another opportunity to strengthen military interoperability and demonstrate closer strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific.

With Japanese F-2A fighters making their first appearance in India for a bilateral air combat exercise, Veer Guardian 2026 is expected to be closely watched by defence observers. The training could provide Indian pilots with valuable experience against a fighter derived from the F-16 lineage while simultaneously strengthening the growing defence partnership between New Delhi and Tokyo.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.