Current Affairs · · GS2 · International Relations

Japan's air force chief flies in Tejas during Veer Guardian exercise

Japan's air force chief, General Takehiro Morita, flew in an Indian Tejas fighter at Jodhpur on 20 September. He called the jet a symbol of India's technological innovation. The sortie, during the Veer Guardian air exercise, shows how far India–Japan defence ties have moved.

Event date:

REq1
  1. Context1 / 4
    • General Takehiro Morita heads the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), Japan's air force.
    • On 20 September 2026, he and Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh flew Tejas jets from Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
    • Singh led the formation. Morita flew in the two-seat trainer version of the Tejas.
    • The flight took place during Veer Guardian 2026, an India–Japan air exercise.
  2. Key highlights2 / 4

    Japan's view: Morita called the Tejas a symbol of India's technological innovation and of the Make in India initiative.

    India's view: Singh said the sortie showed Japan's trust in the Indian-built aircraft. He said it could lead to exchange programmes in fighter pilot training.

    The exercise: Veer Guardian 2026 runs for 14 days. It began when Japanese F-2 fighter jets arrived in India on 8 September.

    What the jet does: The IAF describes the Tejas as a 4.5-generation, all-weather, multirole fighter. It can attack ground targets and fight other aircraft at close range.

    Beyond one flight: Singh called Veer Guardian more than an exercise. He said it would further strengthen ties between the two air forces.

  3. Key concepts3 / 4
    1. Tejas Light Combat Aircraft
    • The Tejas is a light, single-engine fighter designed in India. The Aeronautical Development Agency, under DRDO, designed it. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) builds it.
    • It entered IAF service in 2016. The newer Tejas Mk1A adds better radar and electronic warfare systems.
    • Indigenous design versus indigenous parts: India designed the aircraft, but some key parts are imported. Its engine, the GE F404, comes from the United States.
    • Foreign interest in the Tejas matters because India hopes to export it.

    News connection: A foreign air force chief flying the Tejas gives the programme international visibility.

    1. Interoperability and bilateral exercises
    • Interoperability means two militaries can work together smoothly. They share procedures, communication methods and tactics.
    • Joint exercises build it. Pilots learn how the other air force plans, flies and fights.
    • India and Japan hold separate exercises for each service. Veer Guardian is for the air forces. JIMEX is for the navies. Dharma Guardian is for the armies.
    • Japan also joins Malabar, a naval exercise with India, the United States and Australia.

    News connection: Veer Guardian 2026 brings Indian and Japanese fighter jets into the same airspace for joint missions.

    1. India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership
    • India and Japan raised their ties to a "Special Strategic and Global Partnership" in 2014.
    • Both countries back a free, open, rules-based Indo-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific is the region joining the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
    • They hold a "2+2" dialogue, where the foreign and defence ministers of both countries meet together.
    • In 2020 they signed an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement. It lets their forces supply each other with fuel, food and services during joint activity.
    • Both are also members of the Quad, with the United States and Australia.

    News connection: The Tejas sortie shows the defence side of this wider partnership in action.

  4. Way forward4 / 4

    Expand training exchanges: Follow up the IAF chief's suggestion of pilot exchange programmes, especially on fighter aircraft.

    Build industry links: Explore joint work on defence technology, where Japan is strong in electronics and materials.

    Keep exercises regular: Hold Veer Guardian on a steady schedule, so gains in interoperability are not lost between editions.

Sources

Syllabus

PaperSubjectSub-topic
GS2International RelationsBilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests.
GS3Science & TechnologyIndigenization of technology and developing new technology.
GS3Internal SecuritySecurity challenges and their management in border areas; various security forces and agencies and their mandate.
EssayPolity—

Topics

India Contemporary EventsInternational Relations and Current AffairsDefence Technology

Practice questions

  1. With reference to the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, consider the following statements: 1. It was designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency and is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. 2. The Tejas Mk1 is powered by an indigenously developed engine. 3. It is a twin-engine fighter aircraft. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the Tejas uses the American GE F404 engine. Statement 3 is wrong: the Tejas has a single engine. Every option except (a) includes a wrong statement.

    Difficulty: medium · statement

  2. Consider the following pairs: 1. Veer Guardian — India–Japan air force exercise 2. JIMEX — India–Japan maritime exercise 3. Malabar — Bilateral exercise between India and Japan only How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. All three
    4. None
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Pairs 1 and 2 are correct. Pair 3 is wrong: Malabar is a multilateral naval exercise involving India, the United States, Japan and Australia.

    Difficulty: easy · statement

  3. With reference to India–Japan relations, consider the following statements: 1. The two countries upgraded their ties to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014. 2. They have signed an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement for reciprocal supplies and services between their armed forces. 3. Both are members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: D. All three statements are correct. The partnership was upgraded in 2014, the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement was signed in 2020, and both countries sit in the Quad with the United States and Australia. Options (a), (b) and (c) each leave out a correct statement.

    Difficulty: medium · statement

Mains practice

Answer-writing practice on this article. Attempt it first, then open the hints.

  1. GS2 · 250 words

    India–Japan defence ties have moved from dialogue to joint operations. Examine the drivers of this shift and the limits it still faces. (250 words)

    Show hints
    1. Framework: the 2014 partnership, the 2+2 dialogue and the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement.
    2. Exercises across all three services: Veer Guardian, JIMEX, Dharma Guardian and Malabar.
    3. Drivers: a shared interest in a stable, rules-based Indo-Pacific and the Quad.
    4. Limits: Japan's constitutional limits on military roles, slow defence-industrial deals, differing threat priorities.
    5. Way ahead: training exchanges and joint technology development.
  2. Essay · 250 words

    "Self-reliance in defence is measured by what a nation can design, not only by what it can assemble."

    Show hints
    1. The difference between indigenous design and indigenous components.
    2. The Tejas example: an Indian design with an imported engine.
    3. Why engines, sensors and materials are the hardest parts to build at home.
    4. The role of partners in technology transfer and co-development.
    5. Balancing self-reliance with realistic timelines for the armed forces.