Archive · 23 Sep 2026
U.S. F-35 to Join India’s Tarang Shakti Exercise
A U.S. F-35 fighter jet is coming to India for a military exercise.
The exercise is called Tarang Shakti.
It will practice flying with Indian Air Force aircraft.
These aircraft include Rafales, Tejas jets and Su-30 MKIs.
This will be the first time the F-35 takes part in an exercise with India, according to Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit.
The F-35 had visited India before for the Aero India event.
It later became stuck in Trivandrum.
Officials may not share many details because some information is considered operationally sensitive.
A U.S. F-35 stealth fighter will participate in India’s Tarang Shakti exercise.
The F-35 is expected to fly alongside Rafales, Tejas aircraft and Su-30 MKIs.
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit said this will be the first exercise involving the F-35.
The aircraft previously came to India for Aero India and later became stuck in Trivandrum.
Dixit cited operational-security concerns and said officials may provide limited details afterward.
- Who
- The U.S. F-35 and the Indian Air Force, with Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit discussing the participation.
- What
- The F-35 will join the Tarang Shakti exercise and fly with Rafales, Tejas aircraft and Su-30 MKIs.
- When
- During the upcoming Tarang Shakti exercise; no specific date is provided.
- Where
- India; the specific exercise location is not stated. The aircraft previously visited Aero India and became stuck in Trivandrum.
- Why
- To conduct an exercise with Indian aircraft; further details may be restricted for operational-security reasons.
- Aircraft
- U.S. F-35 stealth fighter
- Exercise
- Tarang Shakti
- Participating aircraft
- Rafales, Tejas and Su-30 MKIs
- Indian official
- Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit
- Previous Indian appearance
- Aero India
- Previous incident
- The F-35 became stuck in Trivandrum
- Security consideration
- Officials cited an operational-security issue regarding further details