Tarang Shakti 2026 hosts F-35 in India's
The US Air Force deploys F-35A stealth fighters to India's inaugural Tarang Shakti exercise, joining nearly 40 nations in drills focused on
Tarang Shakti 2026 brings together nearly 40 countries, with eight foreign nations deploying air assets including the US F-35A, French Rafales, and UAE F-16s. The multinational air drill began on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Air Force Station Jodhpur in Rajasthan and will conclude on October 12. IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit confirmed seven foreign air forces will physically deploy aircraft, while 32 more countries are attending as observers.
Strategic significance of F-35 involvement
The participation of US F-35 stealth fighters marks the first time they will undertake tactical missions with Indian fighters from an Indian airbase. Six US F-35A jets are taking part. This shows that New Delhi’s and Washington’s defense ties remain on a steady keel. The Indian Air Force operated alongside F-35s during a joint exercise in Australia two years ago, and the stealth fighter has twice featured at defense exhibitions in India. The upcoming drill, however, represents a new level of integrated tactical training on home soil.
Indian Air Force capabilities and objectives
India will field Rafales, Su-30MKIs, Tejas, and Mirage 2000 fighters while using the exercise to test lessons from recent tensions and validate indigenous platforms. The Indian Air Force also deployed Jaguars, MiG-29s, AWACS, and aerial tankers. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit said the air force wants to use the exercises to test lessons learned during India’s brief conflict with Pakistan in May last year. He stated that Tarang Shakti marked a shift from the IAF's traditional focus on bilateral exercises towards training alongside several foreign air forces simultaneously. India does not have a fifth-generation fighter aircraft of its own.
Participating forces and assets
Eight foreign nations have deployed aircraft for the exercise. The specific assets from key participants are listed below.
| Country | Aircraft Deployed |
|---|---|
| United States | F-35A stealth fighters, KC-135 tankers |
| France | Seven Rafale fighters, three A400M transport aircraft, two MRTT refuellers |
| United Arab Emirates | F-16s, Global 6000 aircraft |
| Germany | A400M military aircraft |
| Australia | One C-130 Hercules transport aircraft |
| Bangladesh | One C-130 Hercules transport aircraft |
| Sri Lanka | KA-360ER surveillance plane |
Regional context and location
Held at Jodhpur air base, approximately 200 km from the Pakistan border, the exercise runs from September 26 to October 12, 2026, focusing on interoperability and tactical refinement. The exercise was confined to the Jodhpur airbase, near the international border. This follows the recent India-Japan 'Veer Guardian 2026' exercise. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit said: "We do not conduct Tarang Shakti to demonstrate what we already know. We conduct it to discover what we still need to learn."
The exercise will conclude on October 12, 2026, after validating interoperability between Indian and foreign air forces including F-35 integration.
