JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM -- Leaders across Headquarters Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) recently hosted the Indian Air Force (IAF) delegation for the annual India Executive Steering Group (ESG) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, September 8-11.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. James Jacobson, Deputy Commander of PACAF, co-chaired the 24th iteration of the ESG with Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff, IAF. This executive-level annual conference, held in the United States or India, allows senior leaders from both air forces to discuss and co-develop a plan for future engagements.

“India is a very important partner to the United States, especially in today’s challenging geopolitical landscape,” said Jacobson. “And the strength of our relationship with the Indian Air Force is a key pillar in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. We look forward to further expanding our engagements and compatibility in the years ahead to ensure the peace, security, and prosperity of the region.”

The group laid out initial planning milestones for future USAF-IAF exercises and conducted a series of discussions on future engagements in the field of integrated air and missiles defense, aeromedicine, logistics, personnel recovery, aerial refueling, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

“This year’s ESG was very productive as we were able to continue our senior leaders’ discussions during last week’s Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium,” said Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari. “In an era of growing strategic competition, the continuing synergistic collaboration between the Indian Air Force and the United States Air Force is essential to the region’s stability.”

In just the week prior, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, attended the Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium as the honorary Dean for the event.

The two air forces agreed to continue working bilaterally and in cooperation with other like-minded partners to expand the region’s capabilities to work together in times of need.