Japan air chief flies Tejas in exercise Veer Guardian

Japan Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita flew in a Tejas aircraft alongside an Indian Air Force pilot during the ongoing India-Japan bilateral air exercise Veer Guardian at Air Force Station Jodhpur on Sunday. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh flew solo in another Tejas fighter jet in a formation sortie that lasted 20-25 minutes. The exercise runs from September 9 to 22 and includes IAF Tejas, Su-30 MKI and Rafale, and JASDF F-2A fighters. This is the first time Japanese fighter aircraft have operated from Indian soil in a bilateral exercise.

The Hindu reports that Air Chief Marshal Singh said the Japanese chief's decision to fly Tejas shows faith in India's homegrown aircraft, and that General Morita called the sortie a symbol of India's technological innovation and the Make in India initiative. Hindustan Times and Assam Tribune also quote General Morita describing the flight as a truly invaluable experience and a symbol of trust and friendship. Assam Tribune notes the two air chiefs exchanged badges after the sortie and that Singh highlighted the milestone of Japanese fighters deploying to India.

The IAF chief said a large number of Tejas aircraft are on order but some deliveries are affected by global supply-chain issues, while development of the Tejas Mark II and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft will take Indian defence aviation to higher heights. The two sides are undertaking advanced operational missions, professional exchanges and discussions on mission planning, engineering and aerospace safety during the exercise.