Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Monday began a week-long visit to the United States to strengthen defense ties between the two countries, officials familiar with the matter said.
The officials said that ongoing projects and potential avenues for future defense cooperation are expected to be discussed during the visit.
His visit comes as India seeks faster delivery of F404 engines from the US for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Mk-1A) and is negotiating a deal to co-produce F414 engines in the country for the more advanced LCA Mk-2 programme.
“I am delighted to host and welcome CAS Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh as he begins his visit to the United States to strengthen the defense partnership and maintain the strong and growing relationship between the air forces of the two countries,” Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra said in an X post.
Singh’s visit also comes at a time when an American company is competing with two other global companies for an Indian program to supply the Indian Air Force with 60 Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) to enhance airlift capabilities. The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the value of enhancing military capability $2.38 crore in March, including MTA.
Aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has reportedly imposed liquidated damages on US firm GE Aerospace over the delay in supply of F404 engines for the LCA Mk-1A, as HT had previously reported. The contract for 99 engines specifies the liquidated damages to be paid for any delay in supply, and this clause is triggered each time an engine is delayed.
These engines are intended for the 83 LCA Mk-1As ordered by the Department of Defense $48,000 crore in 2021 to strengthen the IAF’s fighter fleet. HAL was supposed to deliver the first aircraft in March 2024 under the contract, but deliveries have not yet begun.
The LCA Mk-1A program had been hampered earlier by GE Aerospace’s inability to deliver engines on time and delays in some key certifications.
In November 2025, HAL signed another deal with GE Aerospace to purchase 113 F404 engines to power an additional 97 LCA Mk-1As ordered by the Department of Defense last September. $Rs 62,370 crore to enhance Air Force readiness. The engine deal is worth $1 billion.
The deal for co-production of F414 engines in India will involve 80% technology transfer and is also valued at around $1 billion.
Among the companies vying for the MTA order are US firm Lockheed Martin with its C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, which has offered its KC-390 Millennium aircraft to India, and European company Airbus Defense and Space with its A-400M aircraft.
The American company has teamed up with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), and Embraer has teamed up with Mahindra to bid for the contract. However, Airbus has not yet announced its partner.
In 2024, India signed a $3.5 billion deal with the United States to purchase 31 MQ-9B drones, primarily to bolster its defense preparedness with a focus on China. Fifteen of the drones will be assigned to the Navy, and eight each to the Army and the Israeli Air Force. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2029.
