Key Agreements and Advancements
PM Modi’s U.S. visit strengthened defence ties between India and the U.S.
India will likely purchase and co-produce Javelin ATGMs and Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicles.
India will buy 6 more P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to enhance Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).
A new 10-year defence cooperation framework was signed between India and the U.S.
Cooperation in autonomous systems was boosted, with contracts between Anduril Industries and the Mahindra Group.
L3Harris and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) will co-develop Active Towed Array Systems (ATAS).
A new Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA) was launched to promote further collaboration in unmanned and autonomous systems.
Challenges in Defence Cooperation
There was no mention of the F-404 engines for the Tejas fighter or F-414 engines for the Tejas Mark-II.
The F-35 fighter aircraft offer from the U.S. could be difficult to integrate into the Indian Air Force (IAF).
India’s IAF needs to fill gaps in its air force capabilities, which includes delayed fighter aircraft integrations.
The Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) Issue
The MMRCA project aims to acquire 114 multirole fighter jets but has faced delays since 2000.
India purchased 36 Rafale jets, but without the expected technology transfer for local production.
The F-35 offer from the U.S. lacks co-production or technology transfer, unlike the Rafale deal.
Potential Hurdles and Strategic Considerations
Integrating the F-35 would require significant changes to the IAF’s existing infrastructure.
The U.S. may impose restrictions on the F-35’s use, which India must consider.
Both India and the U.S. need to address challenges in the Reciprocal Defence Procurement (RDP) agreement, which aims to align acquisition mechanisms.
80% Transfer of Technology (ToT) for advanced systems like the F-414 engine is a key issue that remains unaddressed.
Both countries need to resolve remaining issues for deeper defence cooperation to be effective.
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