Signifying the growing defence ties between India and US, the armies of two countries will hold a joint exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ in Chaubatia, Uttrakhand for 12 days starting from September 16. The exercise takes place days after the maiden 2+2 dialogue here on Thursday between the external and Defence Ministers of two nations covering the entire range of strategic issues besides cross-border terrorism, enhancing defence trade and sharing of cutting edge technology.
The joint army exercise held every year alternately in India and US will see this year more than 350 troops from each side practicing various drill including urban terrorism besides familiarizing themselves with weapons and technology of each other’s armies, officials said here on Friday. The Indian team will be represented by a unit of 15 Garwhal Rifles. The last episode was held in Joint Base, Lewis-McChord, US.
Meanwhile, during the 2+2 dialogue it was decided to hold the first ever tri-service exercise off the East Coast of India next year where the army, navy and air force of two countries will conduct manouevers focusing on providing rescue and relief during natural calamities. “We have decided for the first time to carry out a tri services exercise on the Eastern Coast with US in 2019,” Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced at the joint press conference with her US counterpart James Mattis after the 2+2dialogue.
Incidentally, India and Russia also held the first ever tri-service joint drill this year. Earlier, the three Services used to have separate exercises of their respective units.
The two defence ministers of India and US also announced their readiness to begin negotiations on an Industrial Security Annex (ISA) that would support closer defense industry cooperation and collaboration.
India and the US have signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) years ago and allows sharing of classified information from US Government and American companies with Indian Government and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU) but not with Indian private companies. The ISA is required to enable this and particularly important as India opens up defence manufacturing to the private sector in a big way.
To further defence innovation, a Memorandum of Intent was signed between the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Indian Defence Innovation Organisation — Innovation for Defence Excellence (DIO-iDEX) which will look into joint projects for co-production and co-development projects through the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). US has emerged as one of the biggest weapon suppliers to India having sold systems worth over ten billion dollars in the last couple of years.