New Delhi: Taking defence cooperation a notch higher during the 2+2 dialogue held Friday, India and US are paving the way to cooperate on the development of infantry combat vehicles.
Speaking at the 2+2 media briefing arranged by the ministry of external affairs and ministry of defence, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane said, “Regarding the infantry combat vehicle, this is part of the defence industry cooperation roadmap between the two countries.”
He added that the roadmap is to co-develop and co-produce the equipment and weapons required by the two countries. “Any cooperation in this regard will happen when the Indian military’s needs are finalised and then we will arrive at a production plan,” he said.
The initial offer on several infantry combat vehicles systems came from the US, he said, and India in turn expressed its interest in carrying out further discussions to co-develop and co-produce these vehicles.
Speaking to the media earlier in the day, American Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had said that India and US would coproduce infantry combat vehicles as part of the defence industrial cooperation.
The vehicle that the two countries will cooperate on is the Stryker infantry combat vehicle, manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems.
With regard to the MQ9B High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones, Aramane said India has extended a Letter of Request (LoR) and is awaiting a response from the US. “Meanwhile we have the necessary capability to take care of immediate threats,” he added.
In June this year, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US, India had announced acquisition of 31 MQ9B Predator drones from the US based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, through the government to government and foreign military sales route at an estimated cost of 3 billion USD.
These drones will enhance ISR capabilities of India’s armed forces.
Regarding the GE 414 engine, Aramane said that the US government had agreed to supply India with these. “We are finalising the commercial arrangement and the necessary legal requirements are being put in place. This is on track and will happen as is scheduled.”
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‘In 2+2, we shared our mutual interests and goals’
Speaking about the overall defence cooperation, Aramane said, “We had a very successful visit of our prime minister in June this year, in which many new initiatives were struck. These initiatives were to be taken to their logical conclusion. The 2+2, in a way, is a continuation of the important steps taken during the visit.”
“We in the 2+2 meeting shared our mutual interests and goals, especially in the regional and global scenario when the situation is very volatile,” said,
Aramane added that the visit of the dignitaries from the US is of great significance and that the two countries see convergence of strategy and economic interests.
Regarding the Investor’s Meet held in New Delhi between US and India this month, he said the partnership will give the necessary dynamism for Indian industry, enabling them to become part of the global supply chain. He added the potential collaboration in emerging domains for the civilian and commercial use as well as strategic use was a matter of common interest for both countries.
Aramane was of the opinion that the two countries had “a very thriving defence cooperation”. While purchases have been going on for quite some time, co-development and coproduction have been the focus in the past few years, he said.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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