Chief of the Air Staff of the United States, General David L Goldfein, flew a sortie in a two-seater Tejas…
(Photo: Twitter/@IAF_MCC)
Chief of the Air Staff of the United States, General David L Goldfein, flew a sortie in a two-seater Tejas light combat aircraft at Air Force Station Jodhpur on Saturday, 3 February.
This is the first time that the highest-ranking officer of any foreign military force in the world has flown India’s indigenously made combat aircraft.
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General Goldfein, who arrived on a visit to India on Thursday, donned the flight overalls as he flew the single-engine fighter jet over the skies of the city in Rajasthan.
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On Thursday, the US Air Force chief met Chief of Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and discussed ways to enhance the ties between the air forces of India and the United States.
General Goldfein is accompanied by General Terrence O’Shaughnessy, Commander of the US Pacific Air Force.
The Tejas light combat aircraft is designed to enhance the Indian Air Force’s fighting capability and replace the existing squadrons of ageing MiG-21s and MiG-27s.
IAF inducted the Tejas in July 2016. In December 2017, the IAF issued a Request for Information (RFI) for 83 twin-engine Tejas MK-1A.
Watch video:
General #DavidLGoldfein, Chief of Staff of US Air Force flew a sortie in LCA #Tejas aircraft at AF Stn Jodhpur. pic.twitter.com/AUIRs21NoP
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) February 3, 2018
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