The F-35A Tarang Shakti debut is under way at Jodhpur, with US Air Force stealth fighters flying in an Indian exercise for the first time.

The US Embassy in India said on Tuesday that the F-35A pairs stealth with advanced sensors and information-sharing capabilities, and that the jets will train with the IAF and other partners to strengthen coordination and readiness.

F-35A Tarang Shakti debut in India

Six F-35 Lightning IIs and more than 200 airmen arrived on Saturday, US Ambassador Sergio Gor said.

KC-135 tankers are part of the US contingent flying with the fighters. What the F-35 offers the IAF in training has been covered in detail earlier.

Tarang Shakti 2026 at Jodhpur

The F-35A Tarang Shakti debut comes in the second edition of Tarang Shakti, which opened at Air Force Station Jodhpur on Saturday and runs until 12 October. According to the Ministry of Defence, seven friendly foreign countries are flying with air assets: the United States, France, Germany, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Further countries are attending as observers.

Other aircraft on the flight line

French Rafales, which arrived at Jodhpur under Mission Pegase 26, and UAE F-16s are flying alongside aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

How the IAF describes the exercise

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, told a press conference on 22 September that the exercise gives the IAF a realistic training setting to test its assumptions and procedures, see how other forces employ air power and improve interoperability. Officials said the schedule includes large force engagements, air mobility operations, dynamic targeting and combat search and rescue.

The 2024 edition at Jodhpur

The first Tarang Shakti was held in 2024. Its Jodhpur phase drew US F-16s and A-10s, UAE F-16s, Australian EA-18s, Japanese F-2s and Greek F-16s, according to reports at the time.