India, US all set to expand defence links

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar shakes hands with US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter after an MoU signed in New Delhi. PTI

New framework pact inked; technology sharing will go up

In a significant move, India and the United States on Wednesday “finalised” agreements for joint development of “Next Generation Protective Ensembles” (protective gear for soldiers against biological and chemical warfare), and “Mobile Electric Hybrid Power Sources” (generators for troops that would possibly work on solar energy and be smaller, more portable and efficient, and for use in remote outposts), even as visiting US defence secretary Ashton Carter and defence minister Manohar Parrikar signed the strategically-important “2015 Framework for the India-US Defence Relationship”, which “builds upon the previous framework and successes to guide the bilateral defence and strategic partnership for the next 10 years”.

India and the US agreed to “expedite discussions” on “forward cooperation on jet engines, aircraft-carrier design and construction, and other areas”. Speculation is rife that the United States could assist India in the construction of its second indigenous nuclear-powered aircraft-carrier, which could be nuclear-powered. The new framework agreement “provides avenues for high-level strategic discussions, continued exchanges between armed forces of both countries, and strengthening of defence capabilities”, the Indian government said.

The issue of China’s increasing naval presence in the Indian Ocean region and the growing Chinese military assertiveness as well as the situation in the Af-Pak region (Afghanistan-Pakistan) in India’s neighbourhood is also likely to have been discussed during the visit. India’s plan to acquire 22 Apache attack and 15 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters from the US along with ultra-light howitzer artillery guns could have also figured in the discussions.

During Mr Carter’s current visit, the two countries have moved ahead on two of the four “pathfinder projects” identified under the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) during US President Barack Obama’s visit to New Delhi in January this year. The four pathfinder products are the Raven mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), “roll-on, roll-off” mission modules for the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, mobile electric hybrid power sources and chemical-biological warfare protection suite for soldiers.

Mr Carter is reported to have told journalists travelling with him that one of the projects is the development of a high-tech mobile power source for the Marine Corps that will work on solar energy, be smaller, more portable and efficient, and which could be used in remote outposts, while the other is a protective suit for the Indian Army that would be more lightweight and effective when used in chemical and biological hazard incidents. According to a Reuters report, both the projects on protective clothing for soldiers as well as developing the next-generation power source for the battlefield will each have $1 million in funding shared equally by the two sides.

According to the Reuters report, Mr Carter told reporters that while the two projects approved are modest in scale, India and the US are also exploring collaboration at the higher end of technology. “We have big ambitions, and jet engines, aircraft-carrier technology are big projects that we’re working very hard on,” he reportedly said.

The Reuters report further said India is eyeing US aircraft launch technology for a carrier it plans to build and that the two sides have set up a working group to explore cooperation. “We have the pre-eminent aircraft-carriers in the world. They are excited about possible collaboration. There are multiple areas of possible collaboration. It’s a huge platform,” a US official was quoted in the Reuters report as saying.

Defence minister Parrikar was quoted earlier in the day as saying: “There are very positive things happening. As far as DTTI is concerned, many things are coming closer. I think two or three issues may be sorted out, not necessarily today but in a couple of weeks. They are very close to finalisation.”

“In addition, building on the areas of agreement during President Obama’s visit to India in January 2015, Defence Minister (Parrikar) and Secretary Carter agreed to expedite discussions to take forward cooperation on jet engines, aircraft-carrier design and construction, and other areas. The two also agreed to pursue co-development and co-production projects that will offer tangible opportunities for American defence industries to build defence partnership with Indian industries, including in manufacturing under ‘Make in India’,” the defence ministry said in New Delhi.

“During an official visit to India, Dr Ashton Carter, US Secretary of Defence, met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Before arriving in Delhi, Secretary Carter also visited the Eastern Naval Command. The Defence Minister and Secretary Carter discussed the India-US defence relationship, and the broader India-US Strategic Partnership, and reaffirmed their commitment to expand and deepen the bilateral defence relationship. The two also reviewed the existing and emerging regional security dynamics. The Defence Minister and Secretary Carter agreed to continue their efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as maritime security and knowledge partnership in the field of defence... Secretary Carter invited the Defence Minister to visit the US for the next meeting. The Defence Minister accepted the invitation in principle,” the MoD said.