By pursuing detailed planning along with making measurable progress on several specific projects, India and the United States have resolved to strengthen defence Technology cooperation, in sync with their fast expanding strategic ties as said by officials on Wednesday.
As a part of the Framework based on the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), an agreement for the development of an air-launched unmanned aerial vehicle under the joint working group on their systems has been firmed up by the two sides.
All about the meet
At the 11th meeting of the defence technology and trade initiative group which was held Virtually on Tuesday figured prominent ways to strengthen the Defence Technology Corporation as said by the above-cited officials.
The Secretary (Defence Production) along with the Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment from the United States Department of Defence co-chaired the virtual meeting.
Strengthening relations
According to one of the statements made by the defence ministry the first project agreement which was for the air-launched unmanned aerial vehicle under the joint working group at systems was signed since the last DTTI group meeting in September 2020 and is a major accomplishment for the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative.
A revised statement of intent declaring the intention of both the sides which is to strengthen that dialogue on Defence Technology cooperation by pursuing detailed planning along with making measurable progress was agreed upon by the two sides, on several specific DTTI projects.
Creating opportunities for co-production and co-development of defence equipment along with bringing sustained leadership focus to the bilateral defence trade relationship is the aim of the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative Group.
Collaborative opportunities
In order to promote mutually agreed projects within their domains for joint working groups which are focused on air, land, naval, and aircraft carrier Technologies have been thereby established under DTTI for the same.
Including a number of near-term projects which are targeted for the completion on priority, the ministry said that the groups reported to the co-chairs on the ongoing collaborative opportunities and activities.
Alternating between both India and the United States the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative Group meetings are usually held twice a year. However, on the account of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this DTTI meeting was held via video conferencing consecutively for the second time.
An expo of the Defence Industry Collaboration Forum (DICF) was organised virtually on Monday in order to further encourage the United States and the Indian industries for developing new technologies under the DTTI group.
Along with facilitating a dialogue between the government and industry on issues that impact industrial collaboration, an opportunity for Indian and the United States industries to be directly involved in DTTI is being offered by this forum.
Sustained defence ties
Since the past few years, the Indo-US defence ties have been on an upswing while India was designated as a major defence partner by the United States back in June 2016.
Including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 which has allowed the militaries of both the states to use each other’s bases in order to repair and replenish supplies as well as provide deeper cooperation, both the countries have also inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years.
Providing interoperability between the two militaries is along with providing for the sale of high-end technology from the United States to India, the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) was also signed by the two sides back in 2018.
With an objective to further boost the bilateral defence ties, the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) was sealed by India and United States in October the previous year while sharing of high-end military Technology, geospatial maps and logistics between the two countries are provided by the pact.