India and the US will discuss the entire gamut of bilateral Defence ties, including joint production of weapon systems in India, stepping up exercises between the armed forces of two countries and exposing senior military officials to each other’s Defence institutes, during Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s three-day visit to the US starting August 29.
The two sides are also likely to ink the logistics Supplies Agreement. It was given the nod in principle during US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter’s visit to New Delhi in April. The draft of the proposed pact is nearly ready enabling the militaries of two countries to use each other’s assets and bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.
As per the agreement, Indian military planes and warships can use US airbases and ports for refueling and replenishment their stocks and the US can do vice versa. However, the US troops will not be positioned on the Indian soil. Moreover, the two countries will have to seek permission in advance to use the facilities. The two countries were engaged for the last ten years or so to have such a pact.
With strategic and defence relations between the two countries gaining momentum in the last few years, the focus now has shifted on India seeking cutting edge technology to develop its defence industrial base.
The two countries had inked a Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) last year to explore possibilities of sharing technology and joint production of weapon systems here. The US is likely to help India in designing the second aircraft carrier to be constructed indigenously. The first ship INS Vikrant is under construction at Cochin Shipyard. Talks are on between officials of two countries for the ship project.
The US is eager to have a share of the Indian defence market and has already emerged as the biggest weapon supplier having supplied systems worth over ten billion dollars in the last few years.