Six US F-35 Stealth Fighters Land In India For Tarang Shakti Exercise Debut

Six US F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets and more than 200 American airmen have arrived in India for their first participation in the multilateral Tarang Shakti air exercise, adding one of the world's most advanced combat aircraft to the international airpower showcase in Jodhpur.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor confirmed the arrival on Saturday, saying he was “excited” to see the American fifth-generation fighters make their debut in the exercise. He also shared photographs of the aircraft on social media.

The F-35s have arrived at Jodhpur Air Force Station, where the second edition of Tarang Shakti is being held from September 26 to October 12.

Tarang Shakti is a major multinational air exercise hosted by the Indian Air Force (IAF). It is aimed at bringing friendly air forces together for realistic flying operations, tactical training and the exchange of operational experience. A key objective is to improve interoperability, allowing participating forces to better coordinate and operate alongside each other in complex air situations.

The exercise also gives India an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of its frontline aircraft while building closer defence relationships with participating countries.

This year's exercise involves the US, France, Germany, Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the UAE. The IAF is showcasing several of its key platforms, including the Rafale, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, Tejas, MiG-29 and Su-30 MKI.

The American F-35 deployment adds a fifth-generation dimension to the exercise. The aircraft combines stealth, advanced sensors, networking and precision-strike capabilities, allowing it to operate as both a fighter and a highly connected battlefield intelligence platform.

For the US, the deployment provides an opportunity to train alongside India and other partner air forces. For participating crews, the exercise offers exposure to different aircraft, tactics and operating procedures in a multinational environment.

The F-35s' first appearance at Tarang Shakti therefore becomes one of the major highlights of the 2026 edition, alongside the broader focus on cooperation and interoperability among participating air forces.