Six US F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and more than 200 American airmen have arrived at Jodhpur in Rajasthan to participate in the second edition of Tarang Shakti 2026, marking the first time the American fifth-generation stealth fighters are taking part in the Indian Air Force’s multinational air exercise. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor announced the arrival on September 26, describing it as the F-35’s first participation in Tarang Shakti.
Tarang Shakti 2026 began at Air Force Station Jodhpur on September 26 and is scheduled to continue until October 12. The exercise has brought together air forces from more than 40 countries, with seven countries participating directly with aircraft and fighter assets. The United States, France, Germany, Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates are among the countries taking part directly in the exercise.
The arrival of the six F-35 aircraft is one of the major highlights of Tarang Shakti 2026. The aircraft are being deployed alongside Indian and other participating air forces during the multinational drills. The US Ambassador said the American aircraft would fly alongside the Indian Air Force and partner nations during the exercise.
The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole fighter aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin. Its participation in Tarang Shakti 2026 gives Indian and participating foreign air forces an opportunity to operate in a multinational training environment involving different aircraft types, tactics and operational procedures. The IAF has previously hosted F-35 aircraft in India during Aero India, but this is the first time the aircraft is participating in an Indian multinational air exercise.
The American contingent includes more than 200 airmen in addition to the six F-35 fighters. Their arrival adds another layer to the multinational composition of Tarang Shakti 2026, which involves fighter aircraft, transport platforms, refuelling aircraft and other specialised assets. Nearly 80 aircraft are expected to be involved in the exercise, including around 30 foreign fighter and transport aircraft, according to Times of India reporting.
The Indian Air Force is participating in Tarang Shakti 2026 with a range of aircraft, including the Rafale, Su-30MKI, Tejas, Mirage-2000, Jaguar and MiG-29. The exercise therefore brings together aircraft from different generations and countries, allowing participating forces to conduct joint training and improve interoperability.
France is also participating with Rafale fighters, while the UAE has deployed F-16 aircraft. Other foreign platforms taking part include A400M transport aircraft, A330 MRTT multi-role tanker transport aircraft, KC-135 tankers and Australian C-130 aircraft. These different platforms will operate within the broader framework of the multinational exercise.
The scale of Tarang Shakti 2026 is significantly larger than a routine bilateral air exercise. Around 1,500 military personnel are expected to participate, while more than 40 countries are involved either directly or as observers. Seven countries are participating directly with their advanced aircraft and fighter assets, while other nations are attending as observers.
The exercise will involve multiple categories of air operations and training. These include counter-air operations, air defence, close combat, airlift, air-to-air refuelling and other complex mission sets involving multiple aircraft and forces. The training is designed to allow participating air forces to operate together and understand different operational procedures.
Tarang Shakti 2026 is also intended to provide an environment in which participating air forces can exchange operational experience. IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit said the exercise is designed to help forces identify what they still need to learn rather than simply demonstrate existing capabilities. He said bringing together operational experience from India and partner countries can help test assumptions, procedures and different approaches to employing air power.
The Indian Air Force has described Tarang Shakti 2026 as India’s premier multinational air exercise. The IAF welcomed participating contingents arriving in Jodhpur and said the exercise would bring global air forces together for joint tactical manoeuvres. The exercise is taking place over the airspace and training areas of Rajasthan during the two-week period.
The 2026 edition follows the first Tarang Shakti exercise conducted in 2024. During the inaugural edition, multiple foreign air forces participated across two phases. According to the IAF Vice Chief, the 2024 exercise involved 11 countries with their air assets, 45 aircraft, 76 missions and more than 800 sorties. The 2026 edition has expanded the multinational participation further.
The presence of the F-35s in Tarang Shakti 2026 is also notable because the aircraft is designed for operations involving advanced sensors, stealth characteristics and networked combat capabilities. However, the exercise should primarily be viewed as a multinational training activity rather than as an indication of any specific procurement decision by India. The arrival of US F-35s for the exercise does not itself mean that India has announced plans to purchase the aircraft.
The exercise also comes as India continues to expand multinational military exercises involving different partner countries. Tarang Shakti 2026 provides a setting for participating air forces to train together while using their respective aircraft, support systems and operational procedures. The presence of American F-35s, French Rafales, UAE F-16s and Indian aircraft makes the exercise particularly diverse in terms of platforms involved.
The United States’ participation also comes alongside the ongoing India-US military engagement in other exercises. US Ambassador Sergio Gor and Lieutenant General Vikrant Suresh Deshpande recently observed a joint firing demonstration by Indian and US Army personnel at the Mahajan Field Firing Range during Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026. The demonstration included Indian systems such as Pinaka, M777, Dhanush and Swathi, while the US Army deployed HIMARS and M-LIDS systems.
For Tarang Shakti 2026, the focus remains on air operations and multinational interoperability. The exercise allows participating forces to conduct training involving air-to-air engagements, air defence, air mobility, aerial refuelling and other coordinated missions. Such exercises also allow forces to understand how different aircraft and support platforms can operate within a common training environment.
The exercise is scheduled to continue through October 12, giving participating air forces nearly two weeks of joint training opportunities. With more than 40 countries involved, around 80 aircraft and approximately 1,500 personnel, Tarang Shakti 2026 represents one of the largest multinational air exercises hosted by India. The participation of six US F-35 fighters adds a new aircraft type to the exercise and marks the first time the fifth-generation US fighters have joined Tarang Shakti.
As the drills continue, Indian and foreign aircraft will conduct scheduled training missions across the exercise’s operational framework. The participating countries will use the exercise to practise coordinated air operations and exchange experience while operating alongside different air forces. The arrival of the US F-35s therefore forms one part of a broader multinational training programme rather than a standalone event.
The Tarang Shakti 2026 exercise in Jodhpur has consequently become a major focus of India’s current multinational defence engagements. The arrival of six F-35 Lightning II fighters and more than 200 US airmen marks the first American F-35 participation in the exercise, while the wider drills bring together aircraft and personnel from several countries. With operations scheduled until October 12, the exercise will continue to provide opportunities for joint tactical training and greater interoperability among the participating air forces.
