U.S. brings ‘largest-ever delegation’ to Aero India 2023
U.S. Air Force F-16 and U.S. Navy F/A-18 fighters will display at the airshow

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah P. Royal, U.S. Embassy New Delhi Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Ambassador A. Elizabeth Jones, Major General Julian C. Cheater, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, and Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché Rear Admiral Michael Baker at a press conference in Bengaluru on the U.S. participation at Aero India 2023 | Photo: U.S. Embassy, New Delhi

The United States announced its ‘largest-ever’ presence at the show at a press conference in Bengaluru on Saturday. U.S. Charge d’Affairs Elizabeth Jones told news media, “It will be an honour to lead the largest-ever U.S. delegation to Aero India to showcase the world-class equipment, training, capability and interoperability the U.S. industry and military offer. As India modernizes its defence capabilities, certainly we want to be the partner of choice. We are increasingly focused on mutually beneficial co-production and co-development partnerships. We see India as an indispensable partner for a safer, more prosperous, more open, and freer Indo-Pacific region.”

Two U.S. fighter platforms will exhibit at the airshow. Two U.S. Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters, one on static display from the 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea and a second for aerial demonstration from the Pacific Air Forces F-16 Demonstration Team, Misawa Air Base, Japan will participate in the show. Two U.S. Navy Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan will be on static display at the airshow.

Leading U.S. defence companies like Aero Metals Alliance, Astronautics Corporation
of America, Boeing, GE Aerospace, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc, Hi-Tech Import Export Corporation, Jonal Laboratories, Inc., Kallman Worldwide, Inc.,
Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney, and TW Metals, LLC will be exhibiting at the show among the U.S. exhibitors at the USA Partnership Pavilion organized by Kallman Worldwide.

The official U.S. government delegation will include the following officials:

1. Ambassador A. Elizabeth Jones, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to India
2. Jedidiah P. Royal, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs
3. Rear Admiral Michael Baker, Senior Defense Official, U.S. Embassy New Delhi
4. Mira K. Resnick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Regional Security, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
5. Judith Ravin, Consul General, U.S. Consulate General Chennai
6. Justin K. McFarlin, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Development and International Engagement
7. Michael F. Miller, Deputy Director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency
8. Maj. Gen. Julian C. Cheater, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs
9. Brig. Gen. Joel W. Safranek, Director of the Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation
10. Directorate and Director of International Affairs, Air Force Materiel Command
11. Karla Horn, Executive Director of the Navy International Programs Office
12. J. Mario Miranda, Director of Technology, Security, and Cooperative Programs at the Navy International Programs Office
13. Carey Arun, Counselor for Commercial Affairs, U.S. Consulate General Chennai
14. Peter Evans, Deputy Director for Regional Security and Arms Transfers, U.S. Department of State

And finally, the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific’s seven-member music ensemble, Final Approach, based out of Yokota Air Base in Japan, will be performing perform for the public at Aero India on February 16 and for the general public from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on February 15 at the St. Joseph’s University auditorium, Langford Road in Bengaluru.