United States
Australia
United Kingdom
Europe
New Zealand
Canada
U.S. Air Force Gen. Ken Wilsbach hosted Indian Air Force Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh in Washington on April 8, underscoring a push to deepen cooperation and interoperability as the two countries pursue closer defense ties in the Indo-Pacific.
According to the Air Force, Singh received full honors at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling before heading to the Pentagon for meetings with Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Wilsbach. Senior leaders used the visit to highlight India’s role in a network of like-minded partners, emphasize multilateral training, and frame expanded cooperation as central to regional deterrence.
The Air Force said discussions included India’s planned acquisition of MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft, with Wilsbach pledging support to help ensure smooth operational integration once the platform is delivered. He also signaled readiness to back Indian Air Force modernization, including through defense industrial collaboration.
“It was an honor to host Air Chief Marshal AP Singh for this important counterpart visit,” said Wilsbach. “Throughout his day at the Pentagon, we had great discussions focused on modernization efforts, future training opportunities and our shared commitment to a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”
Staff talks covered topics such as the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, the Air National Guard’s Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, and full-spectrum MQ-9 operations.
Singh’s itinerary extended beyond the capital region. At Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, he received briefings on the binational North American Aerospace Defense Command mission of aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning for North America. In Nevada, he visited Nellis Air Force Base for sessions at the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and took a familiarization flight in an F-15EX Eagle II.
“Opportunities like this are crucial for building our joint interoperability and strengthening the strategic partnership between our air forces,” Singh said.
The visit comes amid a yearslong expansion of U.S.-India defense cooperation, including more frequent and complex air exercises, growing information-sharing, and efforts to co-develop and co-produce defense technologies. Both governments have cast the relationship as a pillar of ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.
