Japanese airmen participating in the bilateral combat exercise ‘Veer Guardian 2026’ in India expressed their appreciation for the Indian Air Force personnel, describing them as ‘approachable.’ During their stay, they shared insights into their combat exercise drills, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the training.
“We interviewed members of the Tsuiki Air Base who are currently training in India, so here’s a selection of their responses!” they said in a post on X. Asked about the training at the site, the Japanese personnel said they could “feel their skills steadily improving. “It was my first time experiencing it in its home country, but my body was so stiff that I couldn’t even do the standard poses,” one of them said.
The Japanese contingent was also asked about Indian curry, and whether it was “as delicious as expected. “The real deal really is different. The Indian Air Force, while announcing the launch of the joint air defence drills, had highlighted the strategic objective of the engagement. “The skies over Jodhpur are set for high-octane aerial action as the #IAF welcomes F-2s of #JASDF for Ex Veer Guardian.
It’s super delicious,” they said. Japanese defence minister Shinjirō Koizumi had, in a post on X, said the JASDF aircraft were visiting India for the first time. “Following the Indian Air Force’s first visit to Japan with its fighter aircraft three years ago, this marks the realization of mutual visits by fighter aircraft,” Koizumi stated. He said that in a meeting with Union defence minister Rajnath Singh in August, Koizumi said both had “shared the recognition that this training is an important initiative symbolizing the deepening of Japan-India defense cooperation. Rajnath Singh, replying to Koizumi’s post on X, said Tokyo sending its fighter aircraft to participate in ‘Veer Guardian’ was a “significant milestone” for the India- Japan defence partnership. “The maiden visit of the JASDF fighter aircraft to India reflects our growing trust and shared commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” Singh said. “Following our highly productive discussions in New Delhi last month, mutual exchange of visits such as Exercise Veer Guardian further strengthens this synergy,” Singh added. Strengthening interoperability, sharpening skills and taking the Indo–Japan defence partnership to greater heights,” IAF’s media coordination centre said in a post on X.
