IAF chief leaves for US on four-day visit

Indian Air Force (IAF) chief N.A.K Sunday left for the US on a four-day visit, during which he will hold talks on boosting defence cooperation between the two countries.

According to an official release, Air Chief Marshal Browne is visiting the US on an invitation of his US counterpart, General Mark A. Welsh III.

Air Chief Marshal Browne, who is also chairman, chiefs of staff committee, would be accepting the delivery of the second C-17 Globemaster III during the visit. The aircraft is scheduled to be delivered to the IAF July 22 at a ceremony at Boeing's Long Beach final assembly facility.

The IAF chief is scheduled to hold talks with senior military leadership of the US, including Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Martin E.Dempsey and Pacific Air Forces commander Gen. Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle.

"He is likely to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues on the ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries towards strengthening the growing US-India security and defence relationship," the release said.

The IAF chief will also visit the US Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Maryland, and US Space Command located at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

The release said that Air Chief Marshal Browne is visiting the US after 26 years. He graduated from Air Command and Staff College, Alabama, in 1987.