Veer Guardian is a bilateral air combat training exercise, a type of military act, conducted between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). The exercise was created to promote air defence cooperation and deepen the strategic and security ties between India and Japan. The concept originated from discussions during the India-Japan 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting held in Tokyo, Japan, in 2022. The inaugural edition, Veer Guardian 2023, was held from January 12 to 26, 2023, at the Hyakuri Air Base in Japan, marking the first joint fighter training exercise between the two air forces.
The exercise works by conducting various aerial combat drills and multi-domain air combat missions in a complex environment to enhance interoperability and operational synergy between the two forces. Key mechanisms include air-combat manoeuvring, operational planning, and professional exchanges on aerospace safety and engineering practices. For example, in Veer Guardian 2023, the IAF contingent included four Su-30 MKI, two C-17, and one IL-78 aircraft, while the JASDF participated with four F-2 and four F-15 aircraft.
The exercise connects to the broader India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and their shared commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. It is part of a series of bilateral exercises, including the army exercise Dharma Guardian and the naval exercise JIMEX.
The exercise has changed recently, with the Veer Guardian 2026 edition, held from September 9 to 22, 2026, at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan. This edition marked a significant change as it was the first time Japanese fighter aircraft, specifically the Mitsubishi F-2A, were deployed to and operated from an Indian air base. This development indicates an increasing emphasis on practical and operational interoperability and long-distance force projection. The core objective of enhancing air defence cooperation and mutual understanding has stayed the same.