New Delhi: Keeping in view the threats emerging from China, which is considered to be a “common adversary” for India and Japan, both countries will be holding their maiden joint ‘Veer Guardian’ exercise between their respective air forces, sources said.
Exercise ‘Veer Guardian-2023’ will be taking place from January 16 to January 26 at Japan’s Hyakuri Air Base and Iruma Air Base, and aims to signal China that “Japan can provide air support to India from the Pacific while India and can help Japan with its air strength from the side of the Indian Ocean” at times of need, according to a top-level source.
From the IAF, the aircraft that will participate in the exercise are four Su-30MKIs and two C-17s, while from the Japanese side there will be four F-2s and four F-15 fighter jets.
“In the backdrop of an emerging China it is critical that both India and Japan come together in all aspects, including air force. This is happening for the first time and the idea is to give out strong signals to China, which is a common adversary for both India as well as Japan,” the source said.
Tokyo and New Delhi decided to hold this exercise during the last 2+2 talks between the defence and foreign ministers that took place in September 2022.
