The second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti will be held from September 26 to October 12 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
It will feature the US Air Force’s F-35 Lightning II operating from Indian soil for the first time.
Eight countries are set to participate with air assets, including Australia, France, Germany and the USA.
A further 32 nations are expected to attend as observers.
The exercise will cover counter-air, air defence, reconnaissance and other operations.
Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, the second edition of India’s multinational air exercise, will be held from September 26 to October 12, 2026.
The exercise will take place at Air Force Station Jodhpur and adjoining air bases.
Eight friendly foreign countries are set to participate with air assets: Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Greece, Sri Lanka, the UAE and the USA.
A further 32 nations are expected to attend as observers.
The major highlight of the exercise will be the US Air Force’s F-35 Lightning II fighter jet.
This will mark the first time the F-35 has operated directly from Indian soil.
The exercise aims to expose participants to planning and execution of multinational joint combat operations in a realistic, contemporary battlespace.
It is designed to help air forces derive tactically viable solutions from joint exercises.
The exercise will cover a wide range of air operations, including counter-air, air defence, force combat, reconnaissance, airlift and air-to-air refuelling.
The first edition of Tarang Shakti was held in 2024, in Tamil Nadu.
The exercise is expected to showcase the growing capabilities of the Indian aerospace industry, according to the IAF Vice Chief.
India’s own Tejas Light Combat Aircraft has featured in earlier editions of the exercise.
Multinational air exercises of this kind are used by participating countries to build interoperability between air forces.
The Indian Air Force is the primary organiser and host of the Tarang Shakti series of exercises.
Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet at Exercise Tarang Shakti (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India
