By Lakshya Govandi, APS Jaipur
India’s Air Chief Marshal AP Singh touched down in Washington on April 6th for a week-long visit that sent a clear message: India and the US are drawing closer in the skies and beyond.
The highlight came on April 9th, when Singh flew the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, a pointed signal amid India’s ongoing search for 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft. The sortie, alongside USAF Major Matthew Benson, put one of America’s most advanced fighters squarely in the IAF chief’s hands
.At the Pentagon, top-level talks covered defense industrial collaboration, joint operational capabilities, and the Indo-Pacific theatre. A visit to Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado added another dimension: aerospace and maritime warning systems and the prospect of deeper Space Force cooperation.
Also on the agenda: accelerating the induction of MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones for Indian forces and expanding joint training exercises.The visit wrapped up April 13th, leaving little ambiguity. India-US defense ties are moving from partnership on paper to interoperability in practice.