Japan and India on Jan. 12 launched their first joint air combat drill in a move to bolster their military alliance amid the security challenges posed by the Chinese communist regime in the Indo-Pacific region.
Japan deployed four F-2 and four F-15 fighters to participate in the Veer Guardian 2023 joint drill, while India sent four Su-30 MKI fighters, two C-17 transport aircraft, and one IL-78 refueling tanker.
The joint exercise, which runs from Jan. 12 to Jan. 26 via Japan’s Hyakuri Air Base, involves multi-domain air combat missions and expertise exchanges on various operational aspects, according to India’s Defense Ministry.
“This exercise will thus be another step in deepening strategic ties and close defense cooperation between the two countries,” the ministry said in a statement….