In recent years, with the introduction of the US Indo-Pacific strategy and the formation of the “US, Japan, India, Australia” framework, the military exchanges between Japan and India have become closer.under the framework Japan and India have reached a consensus that they will hold joint exercises for their fighters within this year. Of course, their goal is obvious: to fight against China.
It is said that India will dispatch six Su-30MKI fighters, and this will be the first joint training exercise between Japanese Air Force and Russian fighters. Japan will take this opportunity to learn more about maneuverability, range, fuel consumption, maintenance methods, etc. Characteristics, Japan has not disclosed which fighter it will send. It is a good opportunity for Japan to fight against Chinese fighter in the future, because China use fighter type of Russian fighters jets.
Japanese media estimate that the People’s Liberation Army has about 100 Su-30MKK and Su-30MK2, and its self-made J-16 is also considered to be an improvement. Although these fighters are different from the Su-30MKI,Experts believes that relevant information can still be an important reference when fighting against Chinese fighters. Japan and India have now determined that the training airspace is around Japan’s airspace.
Joint training of fighter aircraft requires sufficient mutual understanding and trust between the pilots of both sides. It is one of the highest-level joint training programs. Japanese air force has only carried out exercises with the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia until now.
Japan Air Force has conducted joint training with the Indian Air Force on transport aircraft since 2018 and 2019. This is the for time that the joint fighter training will be conducted.
Former Japanese Air Force Aviation Support Group Commander Oda Kunio said that training with the Indian Air Force Su-30MKI was an “epoch-making” event for Air Force. This will also be the first time a Russian-made fighter jet has landed on Japanese territory since the Soviet MiG-25 defected to Hakodate Airport in Hokkaido in 1976.
Compared with the air, Japan and India have more joint exercises at sea.
On June 29, the Japanese supply ship “Hamana” and the Indian navy light frigate “Kildan” carried out sea replenishment training in the East China Sea. This is due to the Mutual Provision of Materials and Services Agreement signed by the two countries in 2019, which stipulates that Japan and India share defence capabilities and supplies, including food, fuel, ammunition and equipment. In addition, Japan can also use the Indian airbase in Malacca, and the Indian military can use the Japanese airbase in Djibouti.