The US plans to increase military sales to India “in billions” starting this year, President Donald Trump said in a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday that America’s most advanced military platform It said it provided the F-35. Fifth generation fighter jets to India.
However, Foreign Secretary Vikram Mithri later pointed out that there was a process to be followed for military procurement and that formal processes had not yet begun in this regard.
Defense cooperation formed the majority of joint statements issued after meetings with the two leaders, “transforming relationships using strategic technology” (US India trust), and “military partnerships.” It formed new initiatives such as catalyzing opportunities, accelerating commerce and promoting commerce. The 21st Century Technology (Compact) and the Autonomous Systems Industry Union (Asia) have been announced.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits live
In a critical move to liberalize the regulatory frameworks of both countries, the US and India will “consider their respective arms transfer regulations, including international traffic regulations (ITAR), to streamline defence trade and technology exchange. The company also announced that it will maintain, provide spare supply, domestic repairs and overhauls the US provided defense system, and that it will “more appropriately coordinate the procurement system and enable mutual supply of defense products.” Negotiations for Mutual Defense Procurement (RDP) contracts for the Services.
“We’re also opening up a way to ultimately offer India the F-35 stealth fighter,” Trump said. Leaders pledge to accelerate defense technical cooperation across space, air defense, missiles, maritime and submarine regions, with the US reviewing policy on the release of fifth generation fighter jets and submarine systems to India The joint statement said.
In his remarks, Modi said the US plays an important role in preparing India for its defense. “As a strategic and trustworthy partner, we are actively moving towards co-development, co-production and technology transfer,” he said. “New technologies and equipment will improve our capabilities in the future. We have decided to launch Asia.”
Modi added that the defense cooperation framework will be created over the next decade, with defence interoperability, logistics, repair and maintenance being key aspects.
Knowledge officials called the US commitment to relax ITAR for India and launching discussions about RDP contracts “very important” as “very important.” “This allows Indian companies to bid on US Department of Defense bids and publish high-tech items to India — in aerospace, underwater domain recognition (UDA) and missiles,” the official added.
Additionally, the leaders agreed to expand US defense sales and co-production with India to enhance interoperability and defense industry cooperation. In this regard, they announced plans this year to pursue a new procurement and co-production arrangement for India’s anti-javelin guided missiles and striker infantry combat vehicles, the statement said. “They also look forward to the completion of the procurement of six additional P-8i Maritime Patrol aircraft to strengthen India’s maritime surveillance reach following the agreement on terms of sale.” A few days ago, the Hindus reported that India had revived six P-8I proposals, adding them to the existing 12 jobs.
After the lecture, Mr Misri explained the briefing to the media and asked questions about the possibility of F-35 procurement by India, there is a process where the platform was acquired, and in most cases the request for proposals emerged and the responses were evaluated. Masu. “I don’t think that process has yet to be started when it comes to India’s acquisition of advanced aviation platforms. So this is currently in the proposal phase. But the formal process has yet to be started in this regard. I don’t think so.”
In an ongoing discussion between General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), US officials have said that they have co-produced the F-414 jet engine and powered the Light Combat Aircraft-MK2. We look forward to seeing the commercial conclusion. The contract. “Last week, HAL Chairman and Managing Director DK Sunil said they have made progress. The first step is to clarify the technology transfer (TOT), and then on the pricing aspects, he mentioned in Aero India. Stated that the first step is 80% TOT, he said all queries have been submitted and the GE team has answered in India by the end of the month.
The key multilateral aspect is to energize a new quad initiative on “shared airlift capacity to support civilian responses to natural disasters and maritime patrols” ahead of the quad summit hosted by India later this year. did. India, the US, Australia and Japan are members of the Quad.
In related developments, leaders have pledged to “support and maintain” the overseas deployment of US and Indian troops in the Indo-Pacific. The statement added by the mobility of joint humanitarian and disaster relief operations, along with other exchanges and security cooperation efforts.
Previous initiatives in Critical and Emerging Technology (ICET), an ambitious effort for high-end technical cooperation with India, have not been mentioned, and the trust initiative appears to be ICET of the new avatar. However, clarity awaits this aspect.
Published – February 14th, 2025 06:33 AM IST
