India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit the US on August 23. The visit is being made at the invitation of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Minister Singh will be in the US till August 26. During this visit, he will hold important meetings with the US Defense Secretary, in which strengthening defence cooperation will be discussed. Along with this, the Defense Minister will also meet US Assistant for National Security Affairs Jake Sullivan.
Important visit before PM Modi's New York visit
This visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to America is considered important before PM Modi's visit to New York. This visit is likely to give new impetus to US-India relations. Also, cooperation between the two countries in the defence sector can be further strengthened. This visit can also prove to be helpful in expanding the global strategic partnership between America and India.
Roundtable with US Defense Industry
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also hold a round table meeting with the US defence industry during his US visit. In this meeting, the ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries and future defence agreements will be discussed. This conversation can be helpful in further increasing cooperation between the defence sector of America and India.
Delay in supply of GE-F404 turbofan engines
According to sources, during this visit, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will also raise the issue of delay in supply of GE-F404 turbofan engines by General Electric (GE) to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Indian Air Force is facing problems in the delivery of Tejas MK1A due to delay in supply of engines. Tejas MK1A was to be delivered by March 31, 2024, but it has been delayed by about 10 months.
Tejas Mark-2 version and plans for joint production
Defence sources said that India is also preparing to bring the Tejas Mark-2 version, which will use the GE F414 jet engine. India plans to jointly produce this engine with the US. Rajnath Singh will discuss this issue with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin so that the supply of the engine can be expedited.
Cooperation in high technology areas
During this visit, there will also be discussions on enhancing India-US defence cooperation in high technology areas. The two countries will also consider co-production of key defence platforms such as the Javelin anti-tank guided missile and the Stryker armoured vehicle. This dialogue will help ensure a strong and strategic partnership between India and the US in the defence sector in the future.
Interaction with Indian community
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also interact with the Indian community during his visit. This will be an important opportunity for the Indian community, where they will be able to share their opinions and suggestions. In this way, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's US visit will focus on several important points, including strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries, resolving supply problems and enhancing global strategic partnership.
Randeep Hooda: A Look at the Versatile Actor’s Journey on His Birthday
Marking 90 Years of Gulzar: Five Songs That Define His Genius