IAF chief in US to meet senior officials, strengthen defence partnership
Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh is on a visit to the US to boost defence partnership between the two countries. He is expected to meet senior US defence officials to enhance air force collaboration and address key logistical or supply issues.The IAF chief was received by the Indian ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra. In a post on X, Kwatra said, “Pleasure to host and welcome CAS, Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh as he begins his visit to the United States to further strengthen the India-US defence partnership and sustain the strong & growing ties between the two Air Forces.”The visit is significant as it has come days after the HAL chairman D K Sunil flagged significant delays in the delivery of F404 engines by US giant General Electric for Tejas aircraft and the defence PSU imposing contractual penalties on the US company. The IAF chief could also take up the issue of delays in the delivery of GE engines for the Tejas aircraft.Singh’s visit comes weeks after Admiral Samuel J Paparo, commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, visited India from Feb 14 to 19 to collaborate on the India-US shared security interests and to strengthen the nations’ close military ties.While in Delhi, Admiral Paparo had met senior Indian defence officials, including CDS Gen Anil Chauhan and Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi. These discussions centred on areas of mutual interest, including India’s contributions to safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific region. In Chandimandir, Paparo visited India’s Western Command alongside US ambassador to India Sergio Gor to discuss operational security dynamics along India’s western and northern fronts. Paparo concluded the trip in Bengaluru with visits to the Aeronautical Development Agency and National Flight Test Center, highlighting expanding defence industrial collaboration and aerospace innovation.The US designated India a major defence partner in 2016. On Oct. 31, 2025, secretary of war Pete Hegseth and defence minister Rajnath Singh signed the 2025 Framework for the US-India major defence partnership at the ASEAN defense ministers’ meeting-Plus in Kuala Lumpur, establishing the most ambitious and wide-ranging update to the defence relationship.
