The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) have kicked off their first-ever joint fighter jet drill at the Hyakuri Air Base in Ibaraki prefecture, northeast of Tokyo.
Details of the Exercise
The 11-day training, announced by Japan’s Defence Ministry, involves:
- Japan: four F-2 fighters and four F-15 fighters (US-made).
- India: four SU-30MKI fighter jets (jointly made by India and Russia), two C-17 transport aircraft (US-made), and one aerial refuelling tanker.
About 150 Indian Air Force personnel are participating in the drill.
According to a press release by JASDF, the exercise aims to “promote mutual understanding, strengthen defense cooperation, and enhance tactical skills.”
Background and Significance
The exercise was originally agreed upon in 2019 during India-Japan “2+2” defence and foreign ministers’ talks but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It comes at a time when both countries, along with the United States and Australia, are strengthening military ties through the Quad alliance to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Japan’s Expanding Defence Strategy
Japan has been stepping up its military preparedness with a string of joint exercises and a sweeping overhaul of its defence strategy.
In December 2022, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government pledged to double defence spending to 2% of GDP by 2027, calling China the “greatest strategic challenge ever” to Japan’s security.
Tokyo has also expanded security partnerships, including a new defence deal with Britain and an agreement with the United States to extend their mutual defence treaty to cover attacks in space.
