F-35 Makes Indian Exercise Debut as Tarang Shakti Enters High-End Phase The US has deployed six F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters and more than 200 Airmen to Jodhpur for Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, marking the aircraft’s first participation in the Indian Air Force’s multinational exercise. US Ambassador Sergio Gor confirmed the arrival. The deployment brings the US fifth-generation fighter into an exercise involving a broad mix of Indian and foreign combat aircraft. The 2026 edition of Tarang Shakti is taking place from September 26 through October 12 at Jodhpur and associated Indian Air Force bases. Eight foreign air forces are participating directly: Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Greece, Sri Lanka, the UAE and the United States. Another 32 countries are present as observers. Aircraft involved include French Rafales, UAE F-16s, Bangladesh’s C-130J and several IAF types, including Rafale, Su-30MKI, Tejas, Mirage-2000, Jaguar and MiG-29 fighters. The exercise also incorporates airborne early-warning aircraft, transport platforms and aerial refuelling assets. Training scenarios cover air combat at both beyond-visual-range and within-visual-range distances, dynamic targeting, air mobility, air-to-air refuelling and combat search-and-rescue missions. The F-35 deployment gives Indian personnel an opportunity to observe and operate alongside a fifth-generation aircraft within a multinational training environment, while participating air forces can practise coordination across different aircraft types and operational roles.
