Germany’s A400M Joins Fighter Jet Drills at Tarang Shakti 2026 in Jodhpur

Germany has deployed an Airbus A400M military transport aircraft for Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 in Jodhpur, where its crew is training alongside fighter jets in multinational air operations.

German Air Force Captain Maurice Berns, a first officer on the A400M, said the exercise was helping transport crews learn how to operate in large formations and work more closely with the Indian Air Force.

“We are participating in large force engagements, which means that we, as a transport aircraft, are being involved in big fighter jet exercises,” Berns told ANI.

He described the A400M as a backbone of Germany’s air transport fleet, capable of carrying heavy cargo and undertaking both tactical and logistics missions.

TRANSPORT CREWS TRAIN ALONGSIDE FIGHTERS

Berns said flying in India had given the German contingent insights into the IAF’s mission planning and the coordination required for complex air exercises.

“For the German Air Force, flying in India is a great learning experience,” he said, adding that the drills were improving interoperability between Indian and German fighter and transport aircraft.

He described this edition as larger than the previous one and said working with Indian personnel had been a valuable experience for his crew.

The A400M deployment forms part of a broader mix of combat, transport and aerial-refuelling aircraft participating in the exercise.

SEVEN FOREIGN AIR FORCES PARTICIPATE

According to the Ministry of Defence, Australia, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are participating alongside India under the theme “Power in Partnership”.

Foreign aircraft deployed for the exercise include the F-35 Lightning II, Rafale, F-16, A400M, MRTT, C-130, C-130J and KC-30A.

US Air Force F-35As assigned to the 13th Fighter Squadron at Misawa Air Base in Japan are taking part in the operational phase. Visuals released from Jodhpur showed the stealth fighters departing for joint training flights, while other images showed personnel from the 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit servicing an aircraft.

BUILDING ON THE 2024 DEBUT

Tarang Shakti 2026 builds on the inaugural exercise held in 2024. Alongside flying missions, it brings together aircrew, mission planners and operational support personnel to exchange experience and understand each other’s procedures.

The defence ministry said the focus includes interoperability, aerospace safety and mutual learning, with additional countries attending as observers.

The programme also includes a seminar, an industrial tour, the Sekhon Marathon, heritage visits and yoga sessions. The ministry said the exercise offers India an opportunity to showcase its operational capabilities and indigenous aerospace and defence development.

With inputs from ANI