IAF Chief AP Singh holds talks with Italian Air Force Chief to boost defence ties

The high-level meeting, held at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan) in New Delhi on Monday, focused heavily on enhancing military-to-military engagement and charting new avenues for strategic partnership between the two air arms.

The visit comes amidst a steady upward trajectory in defence and strategic relations between New Delhi and Rome, following the elevation of their ties to a 'Strategic Partnership'.

Earlier, on June 5, the Air Chief Marshal concluded a three-day official visit to France, reaffirming the strong and enduring partnership between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force (AAEF), the Indian Embassy in France said. In a post on X, the Embassy stated that the visit underscored deep-rooted defence cooperation between the two air forces.

"The Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, PVSM AVSM, has concluded a three-day official visit to France, reaffirming the deeply rooted partnership between the IAF and the French Air and Space Force (AAEF). The Chief of Air Staff held bilateral discussions with General Jerome Bellanger, Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Force, at the AAEF headquarters in Balard, where he was received with military honours by a guard of honour," the post stated.

The Indian Embassy in France further said that, "The Chief of Air Staff also paid a visit to General Vincent Giraud, Chief of the Military Staff to the President of the French Republic, and addressed officers, including Indian officer cadets on exchange, at the cole de guerre, cole Militaire. The Chief of Air Staff visited the Mont-de-Marsan Air Combat Centre, undertook a familiarisation flight aboard the A-400M from Orleans Air Base, and met with leading defence industry players, including Dassault Aviation, Thales, Safran, and MBDA, thereby advancing the #MakeInIndia initiative." (ANI)