DEFENCE DIPLOMACY AND AERIAL COOPERATION HIGHLIGHTED DURING HIGH-LEVEL INTERACTIONS
SINGAPORE — Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command of the Indian Air Force, undertook an official visit to Singapore on 7 February 2026 on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow 2026, held at the Changi Exhibition Centre. During the visit, he met Brigadier-General Ho Kum Luen, Chief of Staff – Air Staff, Republic of Singapore Air Force, and Brigadier-General Chan Ching Hao, Chief of Staff – Joint Staff, Singapore Armed Forces. The discussions reflected ongoing engagement and cooperation between the armed forces of India and Singapore.
As part of the visit, Air Marshal Manikantan also interacted with H.E. Dr Shilpak Ambule, High Commissioner of India to Singapore, and members of the Indian Air Force’s Sarang Helicopter Display Team, which is participating in the airshow. In a solemn tribute, he laid a wreath at the Kranji War Memorial to honour the soldiers who fell during the Second World War.
On 8 February 2026, the Sarang Helicopter Display Team received special recognition when Singapore’s Prime Minister, Mr Lawrence Wong, interacted with the team on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow. The engagement underscored the mutual respect and strong defence relationship between India and Singapore, as well as the prominence of the Sarang team at the international aviation event.
Source: Indian Air Force
