India, Japan joint exercise from Jan 12 to promote air defence cooperation

An IAF contingent will depart tomorrow for Hyakuri Air Base, Japan for the maiden Exercise Veer Guardian 2023 to be held with Japan Air Self Defence Force from 12 to 26 Jan 2023

IAF will participate with four Su-30 MKI, two C-17 Globemasters & an IL-78 tanker.@JASDF_PAO_ENG pic.twitter.com/vIocSw7ywb

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) January 7, 2023

The exercise will include the conduct of various aerial combat drills between the two air forces. As per the IAF, they will undertake multi-domain air combat missions in a complex environment and will exchange best practices.

“Experts from both sides will also hold discussions to share their expertise on varied operational aspects. Exercise ‘Veer Guardian’ will fortify the long-standing bond of friendship and enhance the avenues of defence cooperation between the two air forces,” the IAF said.

It was during the second 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial meeting held in Tokyo, Japan, on September 8 last year that India and Japan had agreed to step up bilateral defence cooperation and engage in more military exercises, including holding the first joint fighter jet drills, “reflecting the growing security cooperation between the two sides”.

“This exercise will thus be another step in the deepening strategic ties and closer defence cooperation between the two countries,” the IAF said.

India and Japan have in the recent past held several joint exercises. In September last year, the navies of both countries took part in the sixth edition of the Japan India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) in the Bay of Bengal. The JIMEX series of exercises began in 2012 with a special focus on maritime security cooperation between India and Japan. Its last edition was conducted in October 2021 in the Arabian Sea.

In February-March last year, both countries participated in Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN-2022, an annual exercise between Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence Force at Foreign Training Node, Belgaum.

Japan also hosted India, the US, and Australia in the multilateral exercise Malabar in November last year.