Tarang Shakti begins in Jodhpur, with aircraft and country counts that do not all match

The second edition of the Indian Air Force exercise Tarang Shakti began at Jodhpur on Saturday, 26 September 2026, and is due to run until 12 October. The Times of India, CNBC-TV18, ETV Bharat and RNA Media said it had started. Hindustan Times, on the eve, said it would start on Saturday. The IAF welcomed contingents on X. The first edition was in 2024.

The totals are not the same in every report. The Times of India said nearly 40 countries, 80 aircraft including 30 foreign fighters and transports, and 1,500 personnel, with over a thousand sorties expected in a fortnight. It said seven countries were flying and 32 were observers. Hindustan Times said more than 80 aircraft and around 1,500 personnel, counting aircrew, technicians and ground staff. It said eight air forces were bringing assets and named the United States, France, Germany, the UAE, Australia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka — seven foreign forces. CNBC-TV18 and ETV Bharat said over 40 countries. RNA Media said seven nations were bringing aircraft, some 30 were observers, and over 40 were taking part. Those counts are left side by side.

On US fighters, The Times of India said six F-35s were in an exercise in India for the first time. Ambassador Sergio Gor posted that six F-35 Lightning IIs and more than 200 US airmen had arrived. Hindustan Times, ETV Bharat and RNA Media also said six. RNA Media added two KC-135 tankers; ETV Bharat called the jets F-35As and mentioned a KC-135. CNBC-TV18 said the US would deploy two to three F-35s. That is a different figure from Gor and from the other four reports. Both are stated.

French Rafales are seven in The Times of India, in RNA Media, and in a line CNBC-TV18 attributed to Julien Sabéné, who said France would bring "a total of seven Rafales." Support aircraft differ. CNBC-TV18 said the French Air and Space Force arrived Friday under Mission Pégase, its seventh long-range deployment since 2018, with 300 personnel, four Rafale F4s, three A330 MRTTs and two A400Ms, and that the mission includes this exercise. RNA Media listed seven Rafales, three A400Ms and two MRTTs. Hindustan Times said Lieutenant General Dominique Tardif and Major General Julien Sabéné would meet Indian commanders. Ambassador Thierry Mathou told The Times of India that India is a core strategic defence partner, citing Varuna, Garuda, Shakti and Tarang Shakti.

Other types, only as named: RNA Media said one Australian C-130, a Bangladesh C-130J, two German A400Ms, a Sri Lankan King Air 350, and six UAE F-16s plus a Global 6000. ETV Bharat said Australian and Bangladesh C-130J Hercules, a Sri Lankan KA-360ER, a German A400M, and UAE F-16s with a Global 6000. The King Air 350 and the KA-360ER are left as each outlet wrote them.

For the IAF, The Times of India named Sukhois, Tejas, Mirage-2000s and Rafales. Hindustan Times named Sukhoi-30s, Rafales, Jaguars, Mirage-2000s, MiG-29s, LCA Mk-1s, Mi-35s, Mi-17s and IL-78s. ETV Bharat and RNA Media added AWACS or AEW&C aircraft and tankers. ETV Bharat said flying would include refuelling and bombing at Pokhran, up to 40,000 feet over Jaisalmer, Barmer and Phalodi. Hindustan Times listed visual and beyond-visual-range combat, air mobility, refuelling and combat search and rescue.

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, the vice chief, told Hindustan Times the exercise is meant to find what still has to be learned, and cited operational experience including Operation Sindoor alongside partners' experience. RNA Media said the 2024 edition had two phases and an estimated 150 aircraft, and that Rajnath Singh then described it as a way to build cooperation and trust. CNBC-TV18 said this edition follows the India-Japan exercise Veer Guardian at Jodhpur. RNA Media gave the theme as "Power in Partnership."

What's next

The drills are scheduled through 12 October. No final sortie total was in these reports.