In a bid to promote bilateral air defence cooperation between the two countries, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed four Sukhoi Su-30MKI Flanker-H fighters to Hyakuri Air Base in Japan to participate in the inaugural joint air exercise: Veer Guardian 2023.
The flight of four IAF Su-30MKIs arrived at Hyakuri Air Base on January 11 ahead of the start of the first edition of Exercise Veer Guardian, which began on January 12 and will conclude on January 26. In addition to the four multi-role fighters, the IAF has also deployed two Boeing C-17A Globemaster IIIs – operated by No 81 Squadron ‘Skylords’ at Hindon Air Force Station (AFS) in Ghaziabad – and a single Ilyushin Il-78MKI ‘Midas’ tanker, which is assigned to the service’s No 78 Squadron ‘Battle Cry’ at Agra AFS in Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) will participate in Veer Guardian 2023 with four Mitsubishi F-2A/B and four Boeing F-15J Eagle fighters.
This inaugural exercise will see participating aircrews from both the IAF and JASDF carry out various aerial combat drills, including multi-domain air combat missions in complex environments. The two air arms will also exchange best practices in order to enhance interoperability and defence cooperation between India and Japan, with experts from both nations set to also hold discussions on a variety of operational topics. “Exercise Veer Guardian will fortify the long-standing bond of friendship and enhance the avenues of defence cooperation between the two air forces,” the Indian Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
本日、印日合同訓練、ヴィーア・ガーディアンに参加するインド空軍代表団が航空自衛隊百里基地に到着、日本政府防衛省、航空自衛隊による盛大な歓迎を受けました。 https://t.co/T8V189Dwzh pic.twitter.com/3vxHQrj40R
— India in Japanインド大使館 (@IndianEmbTokyo) January 11, 2023
The hosting of Exercise Veer Guardian 2023 comes shortly after the second 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial meeting between government and military delegates from India and Japan was held in Tokyo on September 8, 2022. During these talks, both the Indian and Japanese delegations agreed to further step up bilateral defence cooperation and engage in more military exercises together, including the hosting of these joint air combat drills at Hyakuri as part of Veer Guardian. “This exercise will thus be another step in deepening strategic ties and closer defence cooperation between the two countries,” the Indian defence ministry added.
