india: India, US discuss co-producing jet engines, long-range artillery, infantry vehicles

Forward of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official state go to to the USA, officers of each international locations have intensified their discussions on co-producing jet engines, long-range artillery and infantry autos underneath the Initiative on Vital and Rising Applied sciences (iCET). India’s Nationwide Safety Advisor Ajit Doval and US NSA Jake Sullivan launched iCET earlier this yr.

It was performed on the course of US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who after their Tokyo assembly in Might 2022 had introduced to raise and develop the strategic know-how partnership and defence industrial cooperation between the governments, companies and tutorial establishments of the 2 international locations.

At a gathering with Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane on the Pentagon, US Deputy Protection Secretary Kathleen Hicks termed the proposals to co-produce jet engines, long-range artillery and infantry autos underneath iCET “unprecedented alternatives” to strengthen ties between the defence sectors of the 2 nations.

The 2 officers mentioned priorities for strengthening the US-India defence partnership, together with rising defence industrial cooperation and operational collaboration, Pentagon spokesperson Eric Pahon mentioned.

Hicks underscored the significance of the US-India relationship as vital for selling peace and prosperity within the Indo-Pacific and past. She additionally reiterated the significance of deepening military-to-military relations between the 2 nations because the know-how partnership grows, Pahon added.

Reiterating the US’s assist for India’s defence modernisation targets, together with rising investments in Indian home manufacturing, Hicks and Aramane welcomed the upcoming launch of INDUS-X forward of PM Modi’s go to to the USA in June.

In addition they highlighted its worth as a chance to advertise partnerships between the 2 international locations’ defence innovation ecosystems. A day earlier, the 2 officers co-chaired the seventeenth US-India Protection Coverage Group assembly.

The dialogue superior an formidable agenda — together with industrial cooperation, information-sharing, maritime safety, and technological collaboration — that displays the sturdy and complete defence ties between the USA and India, mentioned US Division of Protection spokesperson Lt Col David Herndon.

“The officers exchanged views about shared priorities within the Indian Ocean Area and aligning the US-India partnership with different like-minded partnerships to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“The leaders strengthened their dedication to strengthening cooperation and interoperability between the US and Indian militaries to work collectively in all domains and throughout all providers,” the spokesperson added.