F-35 Set to Debut in IAF’s Tarang Shakti Exercise

New Delhi: The F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter is set to make its debut in an Indian military exercise as the US Air Force prepares to deploy the aircraft for Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, according to officials familiar with the preparations.

The Indian Air Force's second edition of the multinational air exercise will be held at Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from September 26 to October 12. The participation of the F-35 would mark the first time the advanced US fighter has taken part in a military exercise in India.

F-35 to participate in Tarang Shakti

The F-35 has previously appeared in India at the Aero India air show in Bengaluru in 2023 and 2025, but its expected participation in Tarang Shakti would be different because it would involve the aircraft taking part in a multinational military exercise.

The US Air Force's planned participation is part of a broader international contingent at Tarang Shakti. France, Germany, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are among the countries whose air forces have confirmed participation, according to the latest reports. Around 30 countries are expected to participate as observers.

Which aircraft will join the exercise?

Alongside the expected US F-35 deployment, Tarang Shakti will feature several advanced fighter and support aircraft.

The exercise is expected to include F-16s, F/A-18s, Rafales and A400M military transport aircraft from participating foreign air forces. The Indian Air Force will field major platforms including the Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000 and Tejas, along with transport aircraft, helicopters, special operations platforms, mid-air refuellers and airborne early warning and control aircraft.

The mix is intended to provide participating air forces with opportunities to conduct joint tactical activities and train alongside aircraft operated by different countries.

What is Tarang Shakti?

Tarang Shakti is the Indian Air Force's major multinational air exercise. Its first edition was held in 2024 in two phases, at Sulur in Tamil Nadu and Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

The 2024 exercise involved around 80 Indian and foreign aircraft. Training included beyond-visual-range combat missions, large-force engagements, air mobility operations, dynamic targeting, low-light operations and protection of high-value aerial assets. The IAF recorded hundreds of sorties across the two phases.

The 2026 edition will be conducted in one phase, unlike the inaugural exercise.

Why the F-35's participation matters

The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter designed around stealth, advanced sensors, data fusion and networked operations. Its participation would allow the aircraft to operate alongside fighters from India and other partner countries during a multinational exercise.

For the participating air forces, such exercises provide an opportunity to practise coordination, tactical procedures and interoperability involving different aircraft and operational systems.

The exercise also comes as India continues to develop its own fifth-generation fighter programme, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). India has not received a formal F-35 proposal from the US Air Force, according to the latest report, while Russia has separately offered cooperation involving its Su-57 fighter.

India’s fifth-generation fighter plans

India is pursuing the indigenous AMCA programme as its planned fifth-generation combat aircraft. The programme is being developed separately from the F-35 and is intended to expand India's domestic capabilities in advanced combat aviation.

The expected F-35 appearance at Tarang Shakti therefore represents participation in an international exercise rather than confirmation of any Indian decision to acquire the aircraft. The latest reporting states that the IAF has not received a formal F-35 proposal.

Tarang Shakti follows Veer Guardian

Tarang Shakti will follow the India-Japan Veer Guardian 26 air exercise in the same broad region. Japanese F-2A fighters are participating in Veer Guardian alongside Indian Su-30MKI aircraft, with the exercise running through September.

The back-to-back drills will bring increased multinational air activity to western Rajasthan during September and October.

With the F-35 expected to join Tarang Shakti, the 2026 exercise will bring together a wide range of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft and provide participating air forces with an opportunity for multinational air-combat training and interoperability.