With President Barack Obama clearing a Bill recognising India as a “major Defence partner” of the US, India now hopes to get hold of critical technology for its various modernisation plans, including aircraft carrier and planes. The “partner” tag will also help the Indian Defence industry to forge joint ventures with US armament companies for manufacturing sophisticated weapon systems. So far, US restrictions denied its firms to part with cutting edge technology with other countries.
The outgoing US President gave the nod for the bill on Saturday named National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2017, which asks the Defence Secretary and Secretary of State to take steps necessary to recognise India as US “major Defence partner”.
The new law will enhance security co-operation between the US and India and directs the administration to designate an officer within the executive branch who has experience in defence acquisition to ensure the successful implementation of the Framework for the US-India Relationship. The designated officer will also help resolve issues impeding Us-India defence trade, security co-operation apart from co-production and co-development of weapon systems.
India is keen to expand its defence industrial base and shift from ‘buyer-seller’ relationship to ‘joint development and production’ of weapon systems. At present, New Delhi has this kind of relationship only with Russia wherein the two countries have manufactured Brahmos supersonic cruised missile in India. Moreover, the two nations are now engaged in joint development of Fifth Generation fighter aircraft for IAF.
The US law favouring joint production with India will open many vistas for local industry including private and public to get access to key technology, sources said here on Sunday. India was reluctant to enhance defence ties with US as it was not providing the Indian industry with critical technology for its weapon systems due to laws there. However, the new US law will now clear all these hurdles, they said.
Planning to build the second indigenous aircraft carrier, India wants key technology including engine and satellite based systems from the US part from designing the complex ship as per Indian specifications. The two countries are engaged in talks and Obama’s clearance will fast forward this project, they said. India is now building it first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, at Cochin Shipyard and the ship is likely to join service by 2019.
Given the vast trained pool of information technology engineers and technicians, India wants to develop some cities as major hubs for manufacturing world class avionics systems for fighter jets, electronic systems for ships and equipment to enable the Army to fight a war 24X7 by removing night blindness.
The US has offered to help India in developing these systems as per the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative(DTTI) inked between the two countries two years back. Besides surveillance and avionics systems, India is also keen to have armed drones. The “major defence partner” status will soon see joint ventures between Indian and US companies to manufacture these hi-tech drones as part of “Make in India” initiative, they said.
The coming months after new President Donald Trump takes over in January will see intense discussions between India and US over two proposed foundational agreements. These are Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum(CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Co-operation Agreement(BECA). These two proposals are hanging fire for more than a decade as India has reservations about certain security aspects and US will try to allay those apprehensions. The two countries earlier this year inked the long pending third foundational agreement named logistical Supply Agreement(lSA). It allows armed forces of two countries to use each other bases for replenishment of fuel and water for their warships and planes.
Incidentally, the US in the last few years has emerged as the biggest defence supplier to India having sold weapons and equipment worth over ten billion dollars. They include amphibious ship Trenton renamed INS Jalashawa, ten C-17 transport planes and 12 C-130 JS medium lift transport aircraft besides smaller items for Indian Special Forces.