Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria visits Israel to cement defence ties

Hyderabad: India and Israel have reaffirmed a shared vision of enhanced bilateral engagements and multidisciplinary professional exchanges for the future during the recent visit of the Chief of Air Staff Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria to Israel. The visit also marked an important milestone in the ties between the Indian Air Force and the Israeli Air Force.

Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria concluded his three-day tour of Israel on Friday. He flew to Israel on August 3 and held a fruitful discussion with the Israeli counterpart, Major General Amikam Norkin, the Commander of the Israeli Air Force. A wide range of discussions related to bilateral Air Force interactions and cooperation were held between the two officers.

Flight briefing before flying on a sortie

Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria also flew a sortie in an F-15 fighter aircraft and was given an overview of the Israeli Air Force's operational environment. The sortie in F-15 fighter aircraft is also significant as the US defence manufacturer, Boeing has offered the newest twin-engine air superiority and multi-role fighter F-15 EX.

Air Chief Bhadauria on a sortie in an Israeli F 15

The Air Chief also had productive meetings with Amir Eshel, Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defence and Aviv Kochavi, the Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defence Forces on matters of mutual interest and bilateral defence cooperation.

Air Chief Bhadauria tour of Israel

As part of his visit, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria and his Israeli counterpart Amikam Norkin visited the 'Yad Vesham', Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust and paid homage at the memorial. The Air Chiefs of both countries also laid wreaths at the cemetery for the Indian soldiers in Talpiot, Jerusalem.

Air Chief Bhadauria at Yad Vesham

The visit of the Chief of Air Staff Bhadauria to Israel marks an important milestone in the ties between the Indian Air Force and the Israeli Air Force. Both countries have reaffirmed a shared vision of enhanced bilateral engagements and multidisciplinary professional exchanges for the future.