“Apatsu Mitram, A Friend In Time Of Need”: IAF Chief Hails Deepening India-Japan Ties As Tejas Takes JASDF Chief Skyward

JASDF Chief Takehiro Morita flew a sortie in the indigenous Tejas, which Singh called a clear sign of trust in India's homegrown aircraft

PGurus Newsdesk

September 20, 2026

IAF Chief Amar Preet Singh and JASDF Chief Takehiro Morita flew together in an indigenous Tejas fighter at Jodhpur, as Japanese jets operated from Indian soil for the first time during Exercise Veer Guardian-2026

India and Japan’s air forces mark a new high in defence ties, with IAF Chief Singh calling the partnership “Apatsu Mitram”, a friend in need

Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh used an ancient Sanskrit phrase, “Apatsu Mitram” — a friend in time of need — to describe the deepening bond between the IAF and Japan’s Koku-Jieitai (JASDF), as the two air forces wrapped up a landmark round of the joint exercise ‘Veer Guardian-2026‘ at Air Force Station Jodhpur on Sunday. Addressing a joint statement alongside JASDF Chief of Staff General Takehiro Morita, Singh called the relationship “a partnership built on mutual respect, professional trust, and shared commitment to peace and stability.”

A First For The Partnership

This year’s edition of Veer Guardian carries particular weight: it marks the first time Japanese fighter jets have operated directly from Indian soil. Singh called it “a great milestone in the history of our relationship,” recalling that during the earlier multinational exercise ‘Tarang Shakti-24‘, bad weather over Southeast Asia had actually prevented Japanese aircraft from making the journey to India, even though ground support teams had arrived on schedule. “I’m very happy that we have caught up this time,” he said, describing it as a marker of the “deepening dimension of our Special Strategic and Global Partnership.”

Two Chiefs, One Cockpit

The exercise’s most striking moment came earlier Sunday, when Singh and General Morita took off together from Jodhpur in the indigenous LCA Tejas. Singh framed the sortie flown by his Japanese counterpart as something bigger than symbolism: “The sortie that you’ve flown, I think that is a very clear example of how much faith and trust you have in the homegrown Indian aircraft,” he told Morita, adding that he expects the moment to open doors for future exchange programmes in fighter pilot training between the two air forces.

What The Exercise Actually Involves

The IAF is flying its frontline combat fleet in the exercise — the indigenous Tejas, alongside the Su-30MKI and Rafale — while the JASDF is participating with its F-2A fighter aircraft. Singh traced the evolution of the two air forces’ cooperation “from Shinyuu Maitri to Veer Guardian,” noting how the relationship has grown from subject-matter expert exchanges into full tactical-level exercises conducted in a complex operational environment. He described the current level of trust between the two forces using another term, ‘Kizuna‘ — a bond that grows stronger through shared experience, mutual respect and collaborative operations — and said the exercise reflects both sides’ shared vision of a “free, open, and rule-based Indo-Pacific.”

A Chief Preparing To Hand Over The Baton

Singh also used the moment to address his own upcoming retirement, due within a month. He was quick to reassure his Japanese counterpart that the institutional relationship would outlast any single officer. “At least in the Indian Air Force, we have made sure that the institution is bigger than any person,” he said, adding that his successors would carry the India-Japan partnership forward and “work with you closely to ensure that our relationship grows from strength to strength.” He closed by thanking General Morita personally for joining as a distinguished visitor, saying his presence had “elevated the level of the exercise” and expressing hope that such exchanges would continue at regular intervals.

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