Tarang Shakti 2026: F-35, Rafale and Tejas to Join India’s Mega Air Exercise

Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 will be held from September 26 to October 12 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, bringing together the Indian Air Force and air forces of seven foreign nations, the IAF said.

The participating countries are the United States, France, Germany, Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the UAE. The IAF will field Rafale, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, Tejas, MiG-29 and Su-30 MKI aircraft, among other air assets.

Among the foreign aircraft, the US F-35 stealth fighter will take part in Tarang Shakti for the first time. France will field Rafale aircraft, the UAE will bring F-16s and Bangladesh will participate with C-130J aircraft.

Officials said around 60 to 80 Indian Air Force assets, including those meant for static displays, will be part of the exercise.

The IAF said the exercise is intended to showcase Indian air capabilities and provide a platform for interoperability among participating air forces. Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit said the composition of the exercise includes F-35s, F-16s, Rafales, A400Ms, MRTTs, KC-135s and other specialised platforms.

Dixit said invitations had been sent to 65 friendly foreign countries for the exercise. Some countries will participate as observers, while an air chief or equivalent from 10 countries is expected to attend.

The second edition follows the first Tarang Shakti exercise held in 2024 in two phases at Sulur in Tamil Nadu and Jodhpur. Eleven countries participated with air assets in the maiden edition, with 45 aircraft undertaking 76 missions and generating more than 800 sorties and over 1,000 flying hours, according to the IAF.

The F-35 had earlier participated in Aero India 2025, but Tarang Shakti 2026 will mark its first participation in the multinational exercise, officials said.

The exercise will take place shortly after the Veer Guardian exercise between the Indian and Japanese air forces, which is being conducted at Jodhpur from September 9 to 22.

Indian Air Force Day will also be commemorated through special engagements on October 8 in Jodhpur city.