First Japanese fighter deployment to India puts India-Japan air combat cooperation in sharper focus

Jodhpur | September 5, 2026: India and Japan are set to deepen their air-force cooperation with the upcoming Veer Guardian 2026 exercise, which will bring Japanese F-2A fighter aircraft to Indian soil for the first time.

The bilateral air exercise will be conducted at Jodhpur Air Force Station from September 9 to 21, with three Japanese F-2A fighters and around 110 Japanese personnel participating.

Beyond routine combat training, the exercise is drawing attention because of Japan’s reported interest in India’s operational experience involving Chinese-origin PL-15/PL-15E long-range air-to-air missiles, particularly lessons relating to electronic warfare and countermeasures.

🇯🇵 FIRST JAPANESE FIGHTERS TO OPERATE FROM INDIAN SOIL

The deployment marks an important milestone in India-Japan defence relations.

The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force’s F-2A fighters will operate from an Indian air base alongside Indian Air Force assets, giving both sides an opportunity to practise complex air-combat scenarios in a realistic environment.

The exercise is expected to cover areas such as air combat manoeuvring, tactical coordination, interoperability and operational procedures, while allowing the two air forces to exchange experience on modern aerial warfare.

For Tokyo, the deployment also provides an opportunity to gain first-hand exposure to the operational environment of the Indian subcontinent.

🎯 WHY THE PL-15E IS ATTRACTING JAPANESE ATTENTION

One of the major areas of interest is reportedly the Chinese PL-15 family of long-range air-to-air missiles.

The missile is associated with China’s modern fighter fleet and is designed to engage aircraft at extended ranges. Its combination of long-range engagement capability and modern guidance technology makes it a significant factor in the air-combat calculations of countries operating in the Indo-Pacific.

Japan has its own concerns about China’s growing airpower and missile capabilities, particularly around the East China Sea and the wider Western Pacific.

Consequently, any operational experience gained by India in dealing with such systems could have considerable value for Japanese planners.

🇮🇳 INDIA’S EXPERIENCE AFTER OPERATION SINDOOR

India’s interest in Chinese-origin air-combat technology gained greater attention following Operation Sindoor, during which Indian and Pakistani forces engaged in intense military confrontation.

India subsequently displayed or reported recovery of missile debris identified as originating from Chinese-supplied systems, bringing renewed attention to weapons such as the PL-15.

However, claims regarding the precise circumstances under which individual PL-15 missiles were defeated, jammed, diverted or otherwise countered remain based largely on defence reporting and assessments rather than detailed public operational disclosures by the Indian government.

That distinction is important because the exact electronic-warfare techniques, radar parameters and tactical procedures used during combat remain highly sensitive.

📡 ELECTRONIC WARFARE THE KEY AREA OF INTEREST

Modern aerial warfare is increasingly being shaped by the battle between missiles, sensors and electronic warfare systems.

A long-range missile such as the PL-15 is only one component of a broader kill chain involving aircraft sensors, airborne radars, data links, electronic warfare systems and command-and-control networks.

Understanding how that kill chain behaves under combat conditions can help air forces develop more effective countermeasures.

For Japan, Indian experience could therefore provide useful insights into questions such as:

  • How long-range missile threats are detected and tracked
  • How fighter aircraft respond to extended-range engagements
  • How electronic warfare can disrupt or complicate an adversary’s targeting process
  • How pilots operate when confronted with modern beyond-visual-range missile threats
  • How airborne sensors and data networks contribute to survivability

The most sensitive operational details, however, are unlikely to be publicly disclosed.

🇨🇳 CHINA FACTOR LOOMS OVER THE EXERCISE

The significance of the exercise also has a wider Indo-Pacific dimension.

Both India and Japan operate in strategic environments where China’s expanding air and missile capabilities are a major security consideration.

Japan faces Chinese military activity around the East China Sea, particularly near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, while India has dealt with Chinese military pressure along the Himalayan frontier.

Although Veer Guardian is officially a bilateral air exercise and is not directed against any particular country, the operational lessons exchanged between India and Japan inevitably have relevance to the broader regional security environment.

✈️ F-2A BRINGS JAPAN’S AIR COMBAT EXPERIENCE

The Japanese F-2A is a multirole fighter developed by Japan in cooperation with the United States and derived from the F-16 design.

The aircraft has been extensively integrated into Japan’s air-defence architecture and operates alongside platforms such as the F-15J and F-35A.

Bringing the F-2A to India therefore allows the two air forces to train with different fighter platforms and operational doctrines.

For the IAF, the exercise offers an opportunity to understand Japanese tactics and procedures, while Japan can gain exposure to India’s operational experience and the conditions under which the IAF conducts air operations.

🤝 INDIA-JAPAN DEFENCE COOPERATION ENTERS A NEW PHASE

The exercise comes against the backdrop of steadily expanding India-Japan defence cooperation.

The two countries have increased military engagement through bilateral exercises, maritime cooperation, staff-level exchanges and greater interoperability among their armed forces.

The air domain has become particularly important as both countries seek to strengthen their ability to operate alongside partners in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific.

Veer Guardian provides another platform for this cooperation to move from strategic dialogue to practical operational interaction.

🌏 MESSAGE FOR THE INDO-PACIFIC

The arrival of Japanese fighters at Jodhpur carries significance beyond the exercise itself.

India is increasingly exchanging operational experience with countries that face similar challenges from advanced airpower, missiles, drones and electronic warfare.

For Japan, meanwhile, understanding how another major Asian air force has confronted modern missile threats can contribute to its broader preparations for a rapidly changing security environment.

🔴 A CRITICAL AIR-COMBAT LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

Veer Guardian 2026 is therefore more than another bilateral fighter exercise.

With Japanese F-2A fighters operating from India for the first time, the exercise creates a new opportunity for both countries to exchange tactical knowledge and strengthen air-force interoperability.

Japan’s reported interest in India’s experience with PL-15-class threats and electronic warfare adds another layer of significance—but the exact lessons India may share, particularly regarding combat tactics and electronic countermeasures, are likely to remain classified.

As the exercise begins on September 9, the focus will be not only on flying together, but also on how India and Japan can prepare their air forces for the increasingly complex realities of long-range missiles, electronic warfare and network-centric aerial combat.