INTERNATIONAL

IAF Chief Flies USAF F-15EX During U.S. Visit

PUBLISHED Apr 18, 2026, 1:31 AM ET

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Sources: 4

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Sources: 4

Nevada, US: Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh undertook a familiarisation flight in a Boeing F-15EX Eagle II at Nellis Air Force Base on April 9, flying alongside USAF Major Matthew Benson of the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron to examine the aircraft’s systems and performance. The sortie, reported on April 18, provided Singh and US officials the opportunity to assess the aircraft’s relevance to Indo-Pacific air superiority; US statements described the F-15EX as among platforms essential to collaborative regional defence, and the exchange informs ongoing bilateral training and interoperability discussions.

By Moonie | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

April 9, 2024 — Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh flew an F-15EX at Nellis AFB with USAF Major Matthew Benson.
April 9–17, 2024 — The event was summarized and confirmed by US officials and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron.
April 18, 2024 — ANI published the dispatch reporting the familiarisation sortie; multiple outlets republished it.
April 18–22, 2024 — Coverage emphasized the F-15EX’s role in Indo-Pacific defence and potential interoperability implications.
Post-April 22, 2024 — Bilateral defence contacts continue exchanges on training, testing, and capability assessment informed by the sortie.

News Intelligence

This flight signals a strengthening of US-India defense ties. It could impact regional security, especially in the Indo-Pacific. If you're tracking international relations or defense news, keep an eye on further collaborations.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 4
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 4
Distribution:: Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%

Who Benefited

The visit benefited bilateral military cooperation by giving the Indian Air Force firsthand exposure to the F-15EX’s capabilities, potentially informing training, interoperability planning, and future capability assessments between India and the United States.

Who Impacted

No immediate harm or losses were reported during the familiarisation sortie; the published accounts indicate no parties suffered tangible negative effects from the visit.