Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a three-day visit to the US and has participated in many important meetings. During this, he attended the Quad Summit and held an important bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden. In this meeting, many important issues regarding defense and global security between India and America were discussed. Apart from this, the two countries have also signed several major defense agreements. Let us take a look at the important points of this visit:
1. Purchase of MQ-9B drones: The purchase of 31 MQ-9B Guardian drones was appreciated in the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Biden. These advanced drones will strengthen India's security and surveillance capabilities. Of these, 16 drones will be Sky Guardian (for air security) and Sea Guardian (for maritime security). This agreement will help India more effectively in protecting its air and sea borders.
2. Setting up of a semiconductor plant: Prime Minister Modi and President Biden also discussed setting up a semiconductor fabrication plant in Kolkata. This plant will boost semiconductor production, which will be helpful in advanced sensing, next-generation telecommunications, and green energy. This move will further strengthen technological cooperation between India and the US, helping India achieve self-reliance in technology.
3. Defense cooperation and co-production: Both leaders emphasized advancing the India-US Defense Industrial Cooperation Roadmap. Under this, joint production of jet engines, weapons, and ground mobility systems will be done. Along with this, unmanned surface vehicles will also be manufactured to enhance maritime security. This cooperation will give new heights to India's defense capabilities.
4. Changes in the MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) sector: Prime Minister Modi talked about improving the MRO sector (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhauling) in India. He has reduced the GST rates in this sector to 5%, which will give American companies an opportunity to invest in India. American companies have made big investment plans for the repair and maintenance of drones and other defense equipment in India.
5. C-130J Super Hercules aircraft deal: Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems have signed a landmark deal to set up an MRO facility for C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in India. This will not only be helpful for the Indian fleet but will also meet the needs of global operators. This move will increase India's self-reliance and lead to the development of new technologies in the country.
6. INDUS-X Innovation and Collaboration: Defense cooperation between the two countries will be further enhanced under the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) launched in 2023. The recent INDUS-X Summit held in Silicon Valley has promoted collaboration between India's iDEX (Innovations for Defense Excellence) and the US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). Under this partnership, India and the US will work together on undersea communication and maritime ISR technology.
7. Bilateral Military Exercises and Liaison Officers: The two countries have decided to further enhance mutual military exercises. India-US Joint Military Exercise "Tiger Triumph" 2024 will be conducted, which will be the largest bilateral, tri-service exercise ever. Apart from this, it has also been decided to deploy liaison officers between the two countries, which will further improve real-time cooperation with the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
8. Cooperation in Cyberspace Defense: Prime Minister Modi and President Biden also emphasized increasing cooperation in cyberspace. The cyber engagement to be held in November 2024 will focus on cyber security training, threat information sharing, and protection of critical infrastructure. Apart from this, both countries have also taken important steps towards increasing cooperation in the space security sector.
Future direction: Increasing defense cooperation between India and the US will help make both countries stronger technologically and militarily. This cooperation will promote peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region. The focus on innovation and mutual defense between the two countries will help strengthen global security and strategic partnership.
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