India and US to initiate negotiations on 'Security of Supply Arrangement and a Reciprocal Defence Procurement Agreement' to promote long-term supply chain stability.
After finalising a mega jet engine deal for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit later this month, both countries are working on a “security supply and reciprocal agreement”, and focusing on cooperation in critical emerging technologies like hypersonic, underwater domain awareness (UDA) and advanced materials
Sources in the defence and security establishment told that these topics, along with the situation with Pakistan and China and the security situation in the Asia Pacific, came up for discussion between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and visiting US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin Monday. Austin also met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
The sources told that Rajnath has asked Austin to encourage American companies to source more from India, given that they have bagged major deals, including in commercial aviation, while also setting up maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities for US defence and civil systems operating in India.
India has also told the US that the Biden administration has to clear “hurdles that stand in the way” when it comes to the purchase and transfer of technology from American companies to Indian firms.
Sources said both sides have already initiated talks for an agreement for sharing technology with each other, and that it is promised to be a “seamless affair”.
A decade in the works, the mega defence deal is for India’s state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and private American firm General Electric to jointly manufacture indigenous jet engines for fighter aircraft.
Sources said that the deal, which is for the local manufacturing of the GE F414 engines in India under the technology-transfer mode — and also for the development of a new engine variant — will be announced during Modi’s visit to the US .
The other projects that came up for discussion include those in emerging technology fields like underwater domain awareness, and hypersonic and advanced materials, according to the sources.
Underwater domain awareness is an aspect of maritime security that focuses on the underwater sector, while hypersonic weapons are those capable of travelling between 5 and 25 times the speed of sound.
0 Comments