Seven foreign air forces to join Tarang Shakti-26 exercise in Jodhpur
The Indian Air Force is hosting the Tarang Shakti-26 multinational air exercise in Jodhpur, featuring participation from seven foreign nations. The event marks the first tactical deployment of the U.S. F-35 stealth fighter in India, signaling a shift toward complex, multilateral military operations.
Why it matters
This exercise highlights India's growing role in global defense cooperation and the evolving nature of multinational air warfare in a changing geopolitical landscape.
The Indian Air Force will host the second edition of its multinational air exercise, Tarang Shakti-26, at Air Force Station Jodhpur from September 26 to October 12, 2026. Seven foreign air forces — from the U.S. , France , Germany , Australia , Bangladesh , Sri Lanka and the UAE — are participating.
The exercise will see the participation of advanced combat aircraft, including the U.S. Air Force’s F-35, the French Rafale, the UAE’s F-16 and a Bangladeshi C-130J. The IAF will field a range of its frontline platforms, including the Rafale, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, Tejas, MiG-29 and Su-30MKI.
Participation by the USAF F-35 marks a significant first for the exercise. Though the stealth fighter took part in Aero India 2025, its appearance in Tarang Shakti-26 will mark its first tactical participation in an exercise in India.
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