New Delhi:The US Air Force’s F-35A Lightning II has entered exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, marking the fifth-generation stealth fighter’s first participation in a military exercise in India. The aircraft is part of a multinational training environment involving the Indian Air Force and seven participating friendly foreign countries, including the United States.
In a post on X, the US embassy in India said the F-35As were “making their exercise debut in India at Tarang Shakti”. It added: “Combining stealth, advanced sensors, and information sharing capabilities, the F-35s bring new opportunities to train with the Indian Air Force and other partners, strengthening coordination and readiness together.”
The remarks came as the second edition of exercise Tarang Shakti continued at Air Force station Jodhpur in Rajasthan. Scheduled from September 26 to October 12 under the theme “Power in Partnership”, the multinational exercise is focused on interoperability, exchange of operational experience and closer coordination among participating air forces.
The F-35 has flown in India before, including at Aero India in Bengaluru, where a US Air Force F-35A performed aerial demonstrations in 2023. Its participation at Tarang Shakti is different because the aircraft is now operating as part of an IAF hosted military exercise rather than an aerospace exhibition.
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, vice-chief of the air staff, had confirmed before the exercise that the IAF would train with the F-35 for the first time. He also indicated that details of its operational employment would remain subject to operational security considerations.
As RNA Media reported earlier, the F-35A joined French Rafales, UAE F-16s and a wider mix of combat and support aircraft as the second edition of Tarang Shakti opened at Jodhpur on Saturday.
The defence ministry said Australia, the US, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are participating, while several other countries are attending as observers.
Foreign platforms include the F-35 Lightning II, Rafale, F-16, A400M transport aircraft, A330 MRTT refueller-transport aircraft, C-130, C-130J and KC-30A. The mix brings combat, airlift and air-to-air refuelling capabilities into the same training environment, allowing participating forces to operate across different missions and support roles.
Tarang Shakti was first held in 2024 as India’s inaugural multinational air exercise. Building on that format, this year’s edition brings aircrews, mission planners and support personnel from participating forces into advanced joint training alongside Indian Air Force platforms, with emphasis on safety, mutual learning, exchange of operational experience and a better understanding of different operating procedures.
Beyond flying operations, Tarang Shakti 2026 also includes professional seminars, visits linked to India’s aerospace and defence ecosystem, the Sekhon Marathon, cultural heritage tours and yoga sessions aimed at strengthening interaction and camaraderie among participating contingents.
The IAF has also trained with the US Air Force in exercises such as Red Flag, where Indian crews gained experience in multinational mission planning and large force engagements.
Tarang Shakti 2026 is focused on interoperability, mutual learning and greater understanding of different operating procedures. The F-35’s participation adds a fifth-generation platform to that environment while retaining the exercise’s wider emphasis on coordinated multinational air operations.