IAF chief meets top US def officials to discuss shared strategic priorities, MQ-9B drones | India News
As part of his ongoing US visit, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh held high-level discussions with US Air Force leadership, including US Air Force Chief General Ken Wilsbach, to strengthen the growing defense partnership and discussed shared strategic priorities, procurement of MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones and enhanced Indo-Pacific cooperation.The IAF chief received a full honors arrival at Joint Base Anacostia-Bowling on April 8 and met Air Force Secretary Troy Meinock and Wilsbach at the Pentagon.“It was an honor to host Air Chief Marshal AP Singh for this important counterpart visit,” General Wilsbach said, adding that discussions focused on modernization, training opportunities and a shared commitment to a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Wilsbach appreciated India’s participation in the multilateral exercise and stressed continued cooperation to enhance deterrence. He further welcomed India’s purchase of MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones and assured continued US support for their effective integration into Indian Armed Forces operations.On October 15, 2024, India signed a $4 billion (about Rs. 32,000 crore) deal to buy 31 MQ-9B Predator drones from the United States, with deliveries beginning in January 2029 and ending by September 2030. The contract covers 15 troops and Air Guardians and Air Guardians Army, China and Pakistan are increasing surveillance along the border.In a post on X, the IAF chief said, “The IAF chief received full honors and held discussions with senior US officials focusing on joint training, interoperability, MQ-9B drones and modernization efforts.”The IAF chief visited Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado for a briefing on the binational North American Aerospace Defense Command mission of space alert, space control and maritime alert for North America.Singh also traveled to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, where the visit included a briefing at the US Air Force Warfare Center and a familiarization flight in an F-15EX Eagle II, a US Air Force (USAF) statement said.“Such opportunities are critical to building our joint interoperability and strengthening the strategic partnership between our Air Forces,” the statement quoted Singh as saying.The office call was followed by a staff discussion to discuss topics including the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, the Air National Guard’s Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center and full-spectrum MQ-9 operations.
