Tarang Shakti 2026: US F-35s went to India, Greece did not: “They didn’t let us see the cockpit”

Tarang Shakti 2026 is drawing to a close, with its end scheduled for October 12. US F-35s took part in an exercise on Indian soil for the first time, and the chief of the Indian Air Force said that the United States has made no formal offer of the aircraft. Greece, which had appeared in an official Indian briefing as taking part with aircraft, is not recorded on any list of the operational phase.

Six F-35As at Jodhpur

At the closing press conference in Jodhpur, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh was asked whether the United States has offered the F-35 to India. He said no formal offer has been made. Beside him sat the commander of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), General Kevin Schneider. Six F-35As with more than 200 US personnel took part in the exercise. According to Livefist, it was the first time the F-35 had joined an exercise on Indian soil. Indian fighters flew in close formation with the F-35s.

The question that went viral on X was how long the US can keep the F-35’s capabilities hidden when it brings the aircraft to exercises. As reported by a journalist on X, the American general answered, “We share far more than we don’t.” Singh, laughing, said they had been shown the whole aircraft, but not the cockpit. Other outlets attribute to Singh a wording along the lines of “your people won’t even let us get close to the aircraft”, so the exact words differ by source. Schneider also said that what is shared is set by the program’s security guidelines.

The fifth-generation gap and the Su-57

Before the exercise Singh had said that India urgently needs a fifth-generation aircraft and that the AMCA program must move forward. In Jodhpur he confirmed that Russia has offered the Su-57 and that no decision has yet been taken on whether the Indian Air Force will evaluate it. Washington and New Delhi said in February 2025 that the US was opening the way to “eventually” offering the F-35, but no formal offer has been made to date.

Greece is not listed

On September 22, India’s state broadcaster News On AIR reported that eight friendly countries would take part with air assets: Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Greece, Sri Lanka, the UAE and the United States. The Greek flag was also on the exercise emblem. The official briefing for the start of the operational phase, on September 27, spoke of seven countries: Australia, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The foreign aircraft listed are F-35, Rafale, F-16, A400M, MRTT, C-130, C-130J and KC-30A, with none from Greece. We covered the discrepancy earlier in Greece absent from Tarang Shakti 2026 air contingents despite earlier Indian announcement. We have found no statement from the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, the Hellenic National Defence General Staff or the Ministry of National Defence explaining the absence, nor any report that Greece withdrew. All that can be said is that no Greek participation with aircraft is recorded; the reason remains unknown.

In 2024 the Hellenic Air Force sent four F-16 Block 52+ Advanced aircraft of 336 Squadron, together with C-130 transports, to the first edition of the exercise.