Japanese General Takehiro Morita becomes 1st air force chief of any Asian country to fly Tejas
NEW DELHI: Japanese General Takehiro Morita , Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force , on Sunday became the first air force chief of any Asian country to fly in made-in-India fighter aircraft LCA or Tejas when he and IAF chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh participated in a formation sortie at Air Force Station in Jodhpur as part of the ongoing Sept 9-22 Indo-Japan ‘Exercise Veer Guardian-2026’.
The IAF chief did a solo sortie on a Tejas fighter and led the formation. General Takehiro Morita flew in a Tejas twin-seater trainer aircraft, with Group Captain I Samrat, Commanding Officer of the Tejas Squadron, as the captain. The formation flew over the airfield and subsequently carried out a peel-off manoeuvre for landing. Till now, only air force chiefs of the western countries like the US, France and Germany had taken sorties on India’s 4.5-generation fighter. The sortie provided General Morita an opportunity to experience the Tejas aircraft and its systems.
During a joint press meet, Japanese General Morita said, “I will remember it not only as a truly valuable experience, but also as a powerful symbol of trust, confidence, and friendship. Our partnership has progressed beyond simply conducting exercises together to refine our tactical capabilities at practical level. Through increasingly sophisticated training, our two air forces have advanced our cooperation. These efforts strengthen our capability to contribute to peace and stability and over time help strengthen regional deterrents. Japan and India share that common vision of a free and open in the Pacific”.
The IAF is participating in the exercise with a mix of frontline combat aircraft, including LCA Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale. JASDF is participating with its F-2A fighter aircraft, which has been flown into India for the first time as part of the bilateral exercise. The drill includes advanced operational missions, mission planning conferences, subject matter expert exchanges and interactions on engineering and aerospace safety.
Welcoming General Morita and his Japanese contingent, IAF chief ACM Singh said, “It is a partnership built on mutual respect, professional trust, and shared commitment to peace and stability. India and Japan share a vision of a free, open and rule based Indo- Pacific.” He further said the synergy achieved by both air forces was akin to Kizuna(Kizuna means the enduring bonds between people-close relationships forged through mutual trust and support). He described it as “a bond that grows stronger through shared experiences, mutual respect, and collaboration”.
Coincidentally, General Morita’s sortie on a Tejas trainer on Sunday came just two days after Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd delivered the last two Tejas FOC trainers to the IAF on Sept 18 as part of the 40-jet contract, which comprised eight trainers.
The IAF chief did a solo sortie on a Tejas fighter and led the formation. General Takehiro Morita flew in a Tejas twin-seater trainer aircraft, with Group Captain I Samrat, Commanding Officer of the Tejas Squadron, as the captain. The formation flew over the airfield and subsequently carried out a peel-off manoeuvre for landing. Till now, only air force chiefs of the western countries like the US, France and Germany had taken sorties on India’s 4.5-generation fighter. The sortie provided General Morita an opportunity to experience the Tejas aircraft and its systems.
During a joint press meet, Japanese General Morita said, “I will remember it not only as a truly valuable experience, but also as a powerful symbol of trust, confidence, and friendship. Our partnership has progressed beyond simply conducting exercises together to refine our tactical capabilities at practical level. Through increasingly sophisticated training, our two air forces have advanced our cooperation. These efforts strengthen our capability to contribute to peace and stability and over time help strengthen regional deterrents. Japan and India share that common vision of a free and open in the Pacific”.
The IAF is participating in the exercise with a mix of frontline combat aircraft, including LCA Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale. JASDF is participating with its F-2A fighter aircraft, which has been flown into India for the first time as part of the bilateral exercise. The drill includes advanced operational missions, mission planning conferences, subject matter expert exchanges and interactions on engineering and aerospace safety.
Welcoming General Morita and his Japanese contingent, IAF chief ACM Singh said, “It is a partnership built on mutual respect, professional trust, and shared commitment to peace and stability. India and Japan share a vision of a free, open and rule based Indo- Pacific.” He further said the synergy achieved by both air forces was akin to Kizuna(Kizuna means the enduring bonds between people-close relationships forged through mutual trust and support). He described it as “a bond that grows stronger through shared experiences, mutual respect, and collaboration”.
Coincidentally, General Morita’s sortie on a Tejas trainer on Sunday came just two days after Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd delivered the last two Tejas FOC trainers to the IAF on Sept 18 as part of the 40-jet contract, which comprised eight trainers.
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