The deployment of American F-35 fighter jets for Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 is a significant step forward in India’s quest for cutting-edge fifth-generation combat aviation. Indian fighter aircraft have previously operated alongside F-35s during international exercises abroad, but the upcoming deployment will be the first time F-35s are expected to participate in an exercise on Indian soil, bringing the US stealth platform into direct training with the Indian Air Force in India.
The exercise to be held at Jodhpur Air Force Station from September 26 to October 12 will see participation of air assets from countries including the United States, France, Germany, Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the UAE. The participation of American F-35s, French Rafales and UAE F-16s is expected to provide the IAF with an opportunity to conduct complex aerial operations involving diverse combat platforms.
The distinction between previous overseas interactions and the upcoming exercise in India is operationally important. Training alongside the F-35 on Indian territory will expose participating Indian crews to a fifth-generation stealth platform within an exercise environment shaped by India’s own airspace, operating procedures and tactical requirements. The training could help to better understand how fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft operate together in coordinated missions, although the degree of information sharing and the specific training scenarios will depend on the arrangements made by the participating air forces.
The exercise also comes in the backdrop of the IAF’s efforts to incorporate operational lessons from Operation Sindoor in multinational air training. The exercise will include complex combat drills, interoperability activities and professional exchanges, offering a platform for participating forces to examine tactics and procedures in a multinational environment.
Beyond the F-35’s participation, the presence of Rafales, F-16s and other foreign aircraft is expected to create a diverse operational environment. Such exercises enable air forces to train with different aircraft capabilities, command structures and operational practices, while strengthening military-to-military engagement.
For India, Tarang Shakti 2026 therefore represents both an international air exercise and an opportunity to host advanced foreign combat aviation assets. The F-35’s expected appearance on Indian soil will draw particular attention, not simply because of the aircraft’s stealth capabilities, but because of the operational context in which Indian and American aircraft will train together.
