India, Japan to conduct first-ever air combat exercise ‘Veer Guardian 23'

Tags: Defence

India and Japan will conduct their first bilateral combat air exercise 'Veer Guardian 23' for 10 days in Japan in January 2023.

Important facts

• The exercise will be conducted from January 16 to January 26. The exercise will be conducted at Hyakuri Air Base north-west of Tokyo.

• Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) will conduct bilateral combat training with the Indian Air Force (IAF).

• The aim of the exercise is to promote mutual understanding and strengthen defence cooperation between the Air Forces.

• The IAF will field its Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft from a squadron under the Western Air Command.

• 150 IAF crew will fly in IAF's C-17 transport aircraft.

• On their journey from India to Japan, the fighter jets will be refuelled mid-air using IL-78 aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

• Japan will deploy its F-2 jets which are derivatives of America's F-16 aircraft.

• It will also launch the F-15, which is also used by America.

Other defence exercises between India and Japan

• JIMEX (naval), 

• SHINYUU Maitri (Air Force)

• Dharma Guardian (Army)

• Milan Exercise (Indian Navy)

• Malabar exercise (Naval Exercise) - USA, Japan and Australia