Veer Guardian 2023: Glimpses From India And Japan's Joint Air Defence Exercise

The 16-day long air exercise, ‘Veer Guardian’ between the Indian Air Force and Japan Air Self Defence Force concluded on January 26.

Personnel of Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) pose for photos during the inaugural edition of the bilateral air exercise 'Veer Guardian

The inaugural 16-day long air exercise, ‘Veer Guardian’, between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) concluded on Thursday. (Image: PTI)

Exercise Veer Guardian has been on at Japan’s Hyakuri Air Base since January 12 and involved an IAF contingent comprising four Su-30 MKI, complemented by two C-17 Globemaster Strategic Airlift Transport Aircraft and one IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft. (Image: PTI)

The training regimen of the 16-day joint air exercise included complex and comprehensive aerial manoeuvres in numerous simulated operational scenarios. (Image: PTI)

Exercise Veer Guardian was conducted with the objective to exchange best practices and it involved multi-domain air combat missions in complex environments. Expert discussions sharing varied operational aspects were also a part of the drill. (Image: PTI)

According to the Indian Ministry of Defence, “The exercise involved precise planning and skilful execution by both the air forces.” Moreover, the conduct of air defence missions, “both in Visual and Beyond Visual Range settings,” was practised during the exercise. (Image: PTI)

The aircrew of both the air forces flew sorties in each other’s participating aircraft to gain deeper knowledge and understanding of each other’s flying and operating philosophies. (Image: PTI)

Exercise 'Veer Guardian 2023', that came after the second 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial meeting on 8 September 2022 in Tokyo, provided an opportunity for the IAF as well as the JASDF to boost mutual understanding and gain deeper operational experience. (Image: PTI)

In May, the QUAD Leaders summit is scheduled to take place in Australia and the exercise that concluded also focused on interoperability between the air force assets of India and Japan. (Image: PTI)