NEW DELHI, April 7 -- The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, began his week-long visit to the United States on Monday to bolster defence ties between the two countries, officials aware of the matter said. Ongoing projects and avenues for future defence cooperation are expected to be discussed during the visit, the officials said. His visit comes as India seeks faster delivery of F404 engines from the US for the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA Mk-1A) and negotiates a deal for the joint production of F414 engines in India for the more advanced LCA Mk-2 programme. Indian ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra, said in an X post, "Pleasure to host and welcome CAS Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh as he begins his visit to the United States to further strengthen the defence partnership and sustain the strong & growing ties between the two Air Forces." Singh's visit also comes as a US company competes with two other global firms for an Indian programme to equip the IAF with 60 medium transport aircraft (MTA) to boost its airlift capabilities. The defence acquisition council approved a military capability boost worth Rs.2.38 lakh crore in March, including the MTA. To be sure, aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has imposed liquidated damages on the US firm GE Aerospace for delays in supplying F404 engines for the LCA Mk-1A, as HT previously reported. The contract for 99 engines specifies liquidated damages that must be paid for any supply delay, and that clause is invoked every time an engine is delayed....