<span style="color: #222222;">Indian Envoy in Thailand Nagesh Singh received an Indian Air Force contingent at U-Tapao Naval Air Base located in South-East of Bangkok yesterday, January 8. </span><br />''<br />''The Indian Embassy in Thailand said, the contingent will proceed to Japan to participate in the maiden exercise Veer Guardian 2023 with Japan Air Self Defence Force JASDF from the 12th to the 26th of January.<br />'' <br />''To promote Air Defence cooperation between the countries, India and Japan will hold the joint Air Exercise at Hyakuri Air Base in Japan. The Indian contingent participating in the air exercise will include four Su-30 MKI, two C-17 & one IL-78 aircraft, while the JASDF will be participating with four F-2 and four F-15 aircraft.<br />''<br />''During the second 22 Foreign and Defence Ministerial meeting held in Tokyo, Japan on 8th September last year, India and Japan agreed to step up bilateral defence cooperation and engage in more military exercises, including holding the first joint fighter jet drills, reflecting the growing security cooperation between the two sides. <br />''<br />''Defence Ministry said, this exercise will be another step in deepening strategic ties and closer defence cooperation between the two countries.<br />'' <br />''The inaugural exercise will include the conduct of various aerial combat drills between the two Air Forces. They will undertake multi-domain air combat missions in a complex environment and will exchange best practices. Experts from both sides will also hold discussions to share their expertise on varied operational aspects. <br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">The Ministry said, Exercise 'Veer Guardian' will fortify the long standing bond of friendship and enhance the avenues of defence cooperation between the two Air Forces.</span><br />