Tejas, Rafale, F-35A and Sukhoi jets fly in single formation at Indian Air Force's Tarang Shakti exercise

Key facts

• India's indigenously built Tejas light combat aircraft, France's Rafale, the United States' F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter and Russian-made Sukhoi jets flew together in a single formation during Tarang Shakti, the Indian Air Force's largest multilateral air combat exercise.
• More than 80 Indian and foreign aircraft and around 1,500 personnel, including aircrew, technicians and ground staff, are participating in Tarang Shakti at Jodhpur.
• Seven other air forces are participating with air assets from the United States, France, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, while 32 observer nations include Brazil, Egypt, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam.
• Foreign aircraft in the drills include F-35s, F-16s, Rafales, A400Ms, A330 MRTTs, KC-135s and C-130s, flying alongside the IAF's Sukhoi-30s, Rafales, Jaguars, Mirage-2000s, MiG-29s, LCA Mk-1s, Mi-35s, Mi-17s and IL-78 refuellers.
• This is the first time F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets have participated in an exercise in India.
• The drills include visual-range and beyond-visual-range combat missions, engagements involving high-value aerial assets, air mobility operations, dynamic targeting, air-to-air refuelling and combat search and rescue missions.
• Visiting air forces were briefed at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Bengaluru and will visit the C295 production line in Vadodara.
• India's defence exports reached a record ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26, a 63% increase from ₹23,622 crore the previous year, with a target of ₹50,000 crore by 2029-30.