"Veer Guardian-2023": IAF announces India-Japan air exercise

New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF) has announced its bilateral air exercise with Japan, which has been scheduled from January 12 to 26.

The exercise is viewed as a reflection of the strengthening defensive ties between the two nations as an ambitious China flexes its military muscle in the Indo-Pacific region, PTI reported.

The exercise, named "Veer Guardian-2023", involves the (IAF) and Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF). The location would be Japan's Hyakuri air base.

According to the IAF, it will deploy four Su-30 MKI jets, two C-17 aircraft, and one IL-78 plane, while Japan four F-2 and four F-15 aircraft.

"To promote Air Defence cooperation between the countries, India and Japan are all set to hold the joint air exercise, 'Veer Guardian-2023'," the IAF said in a statement.

It was in September India and Japan agreed to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and engage in more military exercises. The talks on the same were held at the '2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial' dialogue held in Tokyo then.

The IAF says that the said defence exercise would be another step in deepening strategic ties and closer defence cooperation between the two powers.

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

Exports from both sides will hold talks and share their expertise on different operational aspects, the force said in its statement.

"Exercise 'Veer Guardian' will fortify the long-standing bond of friendship and enhance the avenues of defence cooperation between the two air forces," it said.