India To Showcase Rafale, Tejas, Su-30 at Multilateral Air Drill ‘Tarang Shakti’ in Jodhpur

New Delhi: India would showcase its Rafale, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, Tejas, MiG-29 and Su-30 MKI among other air assets during the multilateral air exercise Tarang Shakti, to be held at the Jodhpur Air Force Station from September 26 to October 12. Seven countries, including the United States of America, France, Germany, and Australia, will participate in the second edition of Tarang Shakti that will also have air force teams from neighbouring nations Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The US will bring its multi-role stealth fighter jet F-35, while France's Rafale, UAE's F-16 and Bangladesh's C-130J will display their "high-octane joint tactical manoeuvres" at the event.

The air force exercise will take place soon after the Veer Guardian exercise, a bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force and Japan’s Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) held at the same venue from September 9-22. The exercise that concluded on Tuesday served as a vital platform for enhancing interoperability and strengthening the strategic partnership between the two air forces. The IAF deployed a mix of aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, Rafale, and indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, while the JASDF participated with the F-2A fighter aircraft.

According to IAF, during the joint training spanning 14 days, IAF and JASDF engaged in a wide range of advanced flying missions encompassing within-visual-range combat and coordinated multi - aircraft missions. On Distinguished Visitor's Day, General Takehiro Morita, Chief of Staff, JASDF and Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, visited Air Force Station Jodhpur and flew the indigenous Tejas fighter aircraft.

"I am deeply grateful for the invaluable opportunity to fly in the Tejas. As an aircraft born from indigenous defense capabilities, Tejas stands as a symbol of India's technological innovation,” General Morita said.

“Exercise Veer Guardian 26 concludes as a testament to the enduring friendship and professional camaraderie between the two Air Forces. This engagement continues to pave the way for enhanced collaboration and strategic depth of the defence partnership between India and Japan,” IAF said.

Meanwhile, on the Tejas Mark 1 fighter jet crash at the Dubai Air Show on November 21, 2025, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Tuesday said that the crash is still under investigation. “There are some components which we are trying to get for the final technical analysis. Then we will be able to answer the question...", he added.