Tarang Shakti 2026 Begins at Jodhpur; US F-35 Flies from Indian Soil for the First Time

28 September 2026National

The Indian Air Force began the second edition of its multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan, on 26 September 2026, running until 12 October. Over 40 countries are involved: eight Friendly Foreign Countries — Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Greece, Sri Lanka, the UAE and the USA — are flying air assets, while 32 nations attend as observers. The USAF F-35 Lightning II is operating from Indian soil for the first time, alongside IAF Rafale, Su-30MKI, MiG-29, Jaguar, Mirage-2000 and LCA Tejas. Drills cover counter-air, BVR and WVR combat, air-to-air refuelling and combat search and rescue.

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The first edition of Tarang Shakti was held in 2024 at Sulur (Tamil Nadu) and Jodhpur | AFS Jodhpur falls under the IAF's South Western Air Command, headquartered at Gandhinagar | The Indian Air Force was founded on 8 October 1932; its motto is 'Nabha Sparsham Deeptam'

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