The Hyakuri air base and the Iruma air base in Japan will host the first ever bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) under the name “Veer Guardian 23” from January 16-26, 2019.
Four Su-30MKI fighters from the No. 220 squadron of the Western Air Command, one IL-78 mid-air refueller, and a support group of about 150 people who will be flown along in two C-17 transport planes make up the IAF’s deployment. The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force planned to participate in the drill with a total of eight fighter aircraft, including four F-15s and four F-2s.
Earlier this year, the Indian Navy hosted the multilateral exercise MILAN, in which Japan participated for the first time. In March of this year, the two countries also made their logistics support pact, the Reciprocal Provision of Supply and Services Agreement, fully operational.
