Fighter Jet F35, the US stealth aircraft, is expected to join the Indian Air Force’s Tarang Shakti exercise at Jodhpur in Rajasthan from September 26 to October 12. It would be the jet’s first role in a military exercise in India. Reports say air forces from about nine countries will take part. More than 30 nations are expected to send observers.
Why does this matter?
India has no operational fifth generation fighter yet. Indian pilots and technicians could get a close view of one of the world’s most discussed jets. Joining an exercise, though, is not a purchase.
What is the Fighter Jet F35?
The F35 is a fifth generation multirole fighter. Lockheed Martin of the United States builds it. It has one seat and one engine. Its stealth design helps it avoid radar. It also merges data from many sensors into one picture for the pilot.
It comes in three versions. The F35A takes off from regular runways. The F35B can take off over a short distance and land vertically. The F35C is built for aircraft carriers. The US Air Force flies the F35A.
The IAF’s Rafale and Sukhoi Su30MKI are twin engine jets. The Tejas is a single engine light fighter made in India. India’s own fifth generation project, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, is still in development.
Will the Fighter Jet F35 really take part in Tarang Shakti 2026?
Media reports say the F35 is in the exercise schedule. A small batch of jets is expected at Jodhpur. The IAF and the US Air Force had not publicly confirmed this at the time of writing. Treat the deployment as expected, not final.
The F35 is not new to Indian skies. It flew at Aero India in Bengaluru in 2023 and again in 2025. Those were air show displays. A military exercise is different. It places the jet alongside other air forces in planned training missions.
Which countries are joining Tarang Shakti 2026?
Reports name the US, Australia, France, Germany, the UAE, Greece, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. That makes eight visiting air forces. Some reports say nine. The official list has not been published.
Observer numbers have grown from 18 to more than 30, going by reports.
Why is Jodhpur hosting Tarang Shakti again?
Jodhpur hosted the second phase of the 2024 edition. Air forces from the US, the UAE, Australia, Greece and others flew there. Aircraft included the F16, A10 and EA18. Singapore’s C130 transport and the US KC135 tanker also took part. The base lies in western Rajasthan.
How does the exercise help the Indian Air Force?
Tarang Shakti is a two yearly air exercise hosted by the IAF. The first edition ran in 2024. It trains air forces to work together in the air and on the ground. That skill is called interoperability. It means different air forces can plan, communicate and fly together without confusion.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke at Jodhpur on September 12, 2024. He said the exercise builds “cooperation and mutual trust” between friendly countries.
Air Marshal AP Singh, then Vice Chief of the Air Staff, said in 2024 that the aim included “building security and interoperability.” He is now Chief of the Air Staff.
The 2024 edition covered counter air, reconnaissance, airlift, air defence and close air support. The 2026 edition is expected to include Tejas fighters and locally built helicopters. It will also include ground training, maintenance interactions and technical exchanges.
Has India considered buying the Fighter Jet F35?
No purchase has been announced. The idea surfaced on February 13, 2025, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington. US President Donald Trump said Washington was “paving the way” for India to get the F35. A joint statement referred to a US review of its policy on releasing fifth generation fighters to India.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri responded the same day. He said the matter was “at the stage of a proposal.” The formal process, he added, had not started.
The F35 also drew attention in June 2025. A Royal Navy F35B made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram on June 14. Bad weather and low fuel had stopped it from returning to its carrier.
What else is happening around Tarang Shakti 2026?
India and Japan held the Veer Guardian 26 exercise from September 9 to 22, according to reports. Japanese F2 jets flew in Indian skies for the first time.
Tarang Shakti opens on September 26. The final list of aircraft should become clear once flying begins.