US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster said that DefExpo 2020 in Lucknow was a great opportunity to see talent and innovation of India’s defence industry and the US government was looking forward to pursuing opportunities to expand cooperation as the Indian government establishes defence industrial corridor in Uttar Pradesh.
“Defence exhibitions such as these demonstrate that industry in the US and India, along with our respective governments, share a common understanding regarding the nature of modern battlefield,” the US Ambassador said in a presser in Lucknow on Tuesday.
Juster further said, “We share the belief that in order for India to ensure its defence and work with like-minded nations in pursuit of common security objectives, it is critical that India move toward systems — not just weapons — that are effective, agile, and resilient. India must ultimately move toward systems that are interoperable with the equipment and networks of its security partners,” he said.
US firms at this exhibition produce battle-proven, high-technology equipment and networks. For example, these companies have supplied modern land and sea-based fighter aircraft; ballistic missile defence systems; the most advanced, networked avionics equipment; and secure communications equipment for the United States and our partners. They are poised to offer the same to India, he added.
“While defence technology and an opportunity to view latest high-tech gadgetry is what attracts visitors to DefExpo, perhaps the greatest value is the occasion it provides for our companies to foster closer industry-to-industry ties in what is a key pillar of the US-India relationship,” Juster said.
The US Ambassador added, “I have found in my travels in Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere in India that the potential for industry partnership between our two countries on state-of-the-art defence equipment is enormous.”
“Right now, US firms participating in this event are partnering with companies across India, including in Uttar Pradesh’s Defence Corridor, to produce defence equipment not just for our country’s militaries, but for those of partner nations,” he said.
Giving examples, Juster said, “Tata has partnered with Lockheed Martin to build all C-130 tails and F-16 wings here. And Boeing is collaborating with HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) to produce all AH-64 Apache fuselages in Hyderabad.”.
“Along the pathway to a deeper industry-to-industry relationship, there are, of course, barriers that we must overcome. It is our goal to identify obstacles to enhancing industry-to-industry cooperation and formulate solutions in concert with the Government of India as well as US and Indian industry, so that we can build a closer defence relationship,” he said
When asked what exactly will the US display in DefExpo 2020, the Ambassador said that weapons of different range like satellite, avionics and modern missiles system would be put on display.
“This will be an opportunity for private players in India to enter into an agreement with US companies and manufacture the weaponry here,” he said.
But he also ruled out signing an MoU with UP government over setting up of defence units in the proposed Defence Corridor saying that the US government only played the role of facilitator by creating an environment where private companies could come together and ink a deal.
When asked whether during his proposed visit to India, US President Donald Trump would sign any pact on defence, the US Ambassador said that President Trump had shown his willingness to visit India and there was no proposal pending on defence deal.