Rajasthan’s Jodhpur Air Force Station is about to become the meeting point for one of the world’s most diverse air combat exercises. From September 26 through October 12, 2026, the Indian Air Force hosts the second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti, an event built around the tagline “Power in Partnership” and designed to project what organisers are calling “Precision Power, Air Dominance.”
For its part, the IAF is putting its entire frontline fleet on display, flying the Rafale, Su-30 MKI, homegrown LCA Tejas, Jaguar, Mirage 2000 and MiG-29, backed by airborne early warning aircraft, transport planes and refuelling tankers.
Joining them are air forces from seven other countries, each bringing a distinct mix of hardware. The French contingent stands out as the largest foreign presence, with seven Rafale jets supported by three A400M transport aircraft and two MRTT refuellers. The United States counters with six F-35 stealth fighters and a pair of KC-135 tankers, marking a significant moment for the exercise given the aircraft’s fifth-generation status. The UAE is bringing six F-16s and a Global 6000 business jet, while Germany and Australia are each sending transport support in the form of two A400Ms and a single C-130 respectively. Bangladesh is contributing a C-130J, and Sri Lanka a King Air 350.
The exercise’s reach extends well past the countries flying in. Roughly 30 nations are attending purely as observers, a list that pulls in Brazil and Peru from Latin America; Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania from Africa; Italy, Cyprus and Romania from Europe; and a long roster from Asia and the Pacific, among them Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and New Zealand. Armenia, Cambodia, Ivory Coast, Laos, the Maldives and Oman round out the observer list.
More than 40 countries are involved in some capacity, cementing Tarang Shakti’s status as India’s flagship multinational air event.
