Tarang Shakti 2026: India’s Mega Air Exercise Begins September 26 in Jodhpur – F-35, Rafale and Tejas Set to Share the Sky
India will stage the second installment of the Tarang Shakti 2026 air exercise of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The exercise will start on September 26 at the Air Force Station Jodhpur and will last till October 12. This multinational air exercise will involve the participation of air forces from various friendly nations.
What makes this year’s exercise particularly interesting is that the F-35 fifth generation stealth aircraft belonging to the United States Air Force is going to make its debut appearance in the air exercise in India. Other fighters joining the show are going to be the French Rafales, UAE F-16s, and some of the Indian aircraft including Rafale, Su-30MKI and Tejas.
What Is Tarang Shakti 2026?
Tarang Shakti is a multinational air exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force which provides participating air forces the opportunity to practice operating in a complex environment alongside each other. The second iteration of the air exercise is being touted by the IAF as its biggest multinational air exercise ever, as more than 40 countries have agreed to participate in the exercise either directly or as observers.
This air exercise is not only meant to display fighter aircraft. As per IAF, the purpose of the air exercise includes learning from allied air forces, conducting multinational operations, and improving cooperation between air forces during complex operations. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who is Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the IAF, said that the air exercise will help the participants prepare for future air warfare.
When and Where Will the Exercise Take Place?
Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 is scheduled to commence from September 26 to October 12, where Air Force Station Jodhpur and its surrounding air bases will be the primary locations.
The choice of the location has been made due to the fact that western part of Rajasthan offers a vast amount of airspace which is ideal for military flying and combat exercises. It has been reported that the airspace has been extensively earmarked in the areas of Jaisalmer, Barmer, Phalodi and Jodhpur.
Which Countries Are Participating?
Eight friendly nations from abroad have been planned to take part in this exercise using their aircraft: Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Greece, Sri Lanka, UAE, and the USA. Apart from that, 32 other countries will be participating in this exercise as observers, as per the information provided by the government-owned channel Akashvani.
Inclusion of all these nations makes this exercise a highly international one, as it includes participation of air forces that use different aircraft and different procedures.
F-35 Makes Its Exercise Debut in India
Another notable aspect of the Tarang Shakti 2026 exercise would be the involvement of the US’ F-35 Lightning II fighter jet. According to reports, six F-35s are said to be taking part in the exercise, making their debut in a joint exercise within India. IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit disclosed the news during a media briefing on September 22.
The US’ F-35 Lightning II fighter jets have earlier been seen at Aero India air shows in Bengaluru, but it is different from their participation in Tarang Shakti, since the F-35 fighter jets will be participating in a multilateral exercise along with other Indian and partner country jets.
Rafale, F-16, Tejas and Su-30MKI Add to the Line-Up
However, the F-35 will not be the only high-tech fighter drawing the crowds. The French are likely to bring Rafale fighters, while the UAE will take part with F-16s. India will participate with several of its high-end combat aircraft such as the Rafale, Su-30MKI, and Tejas, among others.
In turn, it presents a chance for the pilots and their crews to train alongside aircraft based on different technological and tactical concepts.
In that way, the exercise for the IAF is not merely about showing off the aircraft itself.
What Will the Air Forces Practise?
Air operations of Tarang Shakti 2026 will be diverse. As stated by the Indian Air Force, it will comprise counter air, air defence, combat operations, reconnaissance, airlift, and air to air refueling. This exercise is expected to provide the trainees with realistic scenarios in their training process.
By conducting such exercises, participating units will have the opportunity to practice their communications, mission planning, tactical coordination, and fast response to changing circumstances. Also, it will enable them to understand the gaps in their operation techniques, as well as learn from the experience of other countries.
Why Operation Sindoor Lessons Matter This Year
Yet another significant aspect of the Tarang Shakti 2026 exercise is that of learning the lessons of Operation Sindoor through which lessons and the operational experience of friendly nations will be incorporated into a realistic training environment, as per the recent reports and the statements made by the IAF leadership.
In other words, this means that the exercise will be held in a modern security setting and not merely restricted to ceremonial flying. The aim here is to challenge some of the assumptions and processes involving air power.
Why Interoperability Is the Main Focus
Air operations in the modern era are characterized by participation of multiple aircraft, surveillance assets, refueling aircraft, and even communication systems and personnel. Interoperability therefore becomes a critical need for nations involved in joint operations.
Tarang Shakti allows participating air forces to learn about their interaction and coordination in the execution of complex operations. The IAF has called the exercise as one that would allow them to learn from each other and prepare for future air warfare needs.
This dimension could eventually turn out to be even more important than the involvement of any specific fighter aircraft.
What Makes Tarang Shakti 2026 Significant for India?
This wide-scale nature and variety of participation make Tarang Shakti a unique platform for defense cooperation with the partner nations. This is because this exercise provides IAF the opportunity to work with various air forces of foreign countries right here in India. At the same time, it gives the opportunity to other countries to be familiarized with the aircraft and conditions of work in India.
Moreover, this exercise shows that India develops wider range of military partnerships. Inclusion of European, Indo-Pacific, Middle Eastern, and South Asian countries into this exercise proves it.
What Should People Expect From September 26?
As the exercise gets under way, there is likely to be an increase in military flights around Jodhpur and its environs. Fighter planes and other support platforms will fly out of the designated base and training grounds, while the restricted airspace would be used for the flights related to the exercise.
For aviation enthusiasts, it would certainly be the most interesting part of the exercise in the participation of the F-35 along with Rafales, F-16s, Tejas, and Su-30MKIs. For the participating air forces, on the other hand, it would still be all about learning and collaboration.
Conclusion
Tarang Shakti 2026 starts in Jodhpur on September 26, when the Indian Air Force will work alongside partner air forces to conduct one of the biggest multinational air exercises in India. Eight nations have been invited to take part in this exercise using their own air force, while many other nations have also been invited as observers.
For the first time, the F-35 from the US Air Force will participate in this Indian exercise, along with Rafales, F-16s of the United Arab Emirates, and Tejas and Su-30MKI of India.
Most significantly, the exercise has been planned with a view toward an objective, which is to understand how different air forces would coordinate with each other in complex aerial environments.
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