One of the reasons for my trip to Japan was to be at Hyakuri air base. Since the Indian SU-30MKI was participating on Veer Guardian 2023, here is part 1 of this amazing exercise.
(Veer Guardian 2023) #veerGuardian2023
For the first time in history, Bharatiya Vayu Sena (IAF, Indian Air Force) fighter aircraft arrived in Japan. From 12 to 16 January 2023, exercise Veer Guardian 2023 (VG23) will take place at Hyakuri air base (Ibaraki Prefecture) just north of the capital Tokyo.
The exercise involves Sukhoi Su-30MKI-3 Flanker from 220 Squadron Desert Tigers based at Halwara Air Force Station (state of Punjab) and Hyakuri based 3 Hikotai Mitsubishi F-2A/Bs. This unit also participated in last year's Pitch Black exercise in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
Veer Guardian 2023 is a bilateral air training exercise between the two air forces. This exercise was originally scheduled for 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, the IAF already planned to send Su-30MKIs to Komatsu in October 2019, the reason for cancelling this exercise is not known. Most probably it was delayed till 2020, with the earlier mentioned result. In July 2021, it was intended to send the Sukhois to Hyakuri, but this was cancelled for the same reason.
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