Washington
Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh held high-level talks with US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen Ken Wilsbach to strengthen defence cooperation and advance shared strategic priorities between the two countries.
During his visit to Washington, Singh received a ceremonial honours welcome at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and held meetings with senior US defence officials, including the Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Gen Wilsbach at the Pentagon. The discussions focused on expanding interoperability and modernisation efforts between the two air forces.
He also visited Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado, where he was briefed on the North American Aerospace Defence Command mission, which includes aerospace warning, control, and maritime surveillance responsibilities for North America. Officials said the engagement provided insights into joint operational frameworks.
At Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, Singh received briefings from the US Air Force Warfare Centre and undertook a familiarisation flight in an F-15EX Eagle II aircraft, highlighting deepening operational cooperation and training exchanges.
Gen Wilsbach praised India’s growing participation in multilateral exercises with partner nations and emphasised its importance in strengthening regional deterrence and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. He also highlighted the strategic value of closer defence collaboration.
The US side reaffirmed support for India’s military modernisation, including its acquisition of MQ-9B drones, and stressed readiness to ensure smooth integration and operational effectiveness of advanced platforms.
Both sides also discussed future training programmes, industrial collaboration, and initiatives such as the State Partnership Programme, signalling a continued push toward deeper defence ties and long-term strategic alignment.