Tarang Shakti 2026 Brings Seven Foreign Air Forces to Jodhpur

Six U.S. Air Force F-35A fighters from the 13th Fighter Squadron operated from Jodhpur during Tarang Shakti 2026, which brought aircraft from seven foreign air forces to India. The visiting contingent also included French Rafales and tanker and transport aircraft, while the Indian Air Force fielded a broad mix of fighter and transport types.

Key details

• The U.S. deployment included KC-135R support aircraft from Kadena; the count was not stated.
• France’s seven Rafales included four aircraft from France and three from a French detachment in the UAE. The French Air and Space Force also sent three A330 MRTT Phénix tankers and two A400M transports.
• Germany sent an A400M; Bangladesh took part with a C-130J; Sri Lanka with a King Air 360ER; and the United Arab Emirates with F-16E Desert Falcon fighters. Counts were not stated for these aircraft.
• The Indian Air Force fielded Rafale, Mirage 2000 and Mirage 2000I, Jaguar including DARIN III-upgraded aircraft, Tejas including Tejas Mk 1 FOC, MiG-29 including MiG-29UPG, and Su-30MKI fighters. An Indian C-130J-30 also featured.
• Australia was among the seven participating foreign air forces; the account did not specify its aircraft types.

Six U.S. Air Force F-35As operated from Jodhpur during Tarang Shakti 2026.

Why it matters

The lineup paired frontline fighters with tanker and transport aircraft, showcasing different roles in a multinational air exercise. India’s contribution spanned several fighter families, including locally developed Tejas variants.