Japan and India to Conduct Joint Fighter Jet Training in January Next Year

Kyodo News: "Purpose to Draw India into the US Camp"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Japan Air Self-Defense Force has decided to conduct a joint training exercise with the Indian Air Force fighter jets for the first time in January next year.

The Air Self-Defense Force announced on the 22nd that from the 16th to the 26th of next month, joint fighter training between Japan and India will be held at Hyakuri Air Base in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Four Su-30s from the Indian Air Force and four F-2s and four F-15s from the Air Self-Defense Force will participate in this training.

The two countries agreed to conduct joint training during the foreign and defense ministers' (2+2) meeting held in November 2019, but it was postponed due to the spread of COVID-19. Kyodo News analyzed this by stating, "With this fighter training, Japan and India’s defense cooperation will expand beyond existing maritime exercises," and added, "Japan aims to bring India into the camp including the United States, keeping China in mind."