During PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington later this month, India and the US set the stage for clinching the mega project to co-produce fighter jet engines, while also deciding to further strengthen operational military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific with an eye firmly on “the bullying and coercion” by China.
The high-level meeting between defence minister Rajnath Singh and US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin concluded a new ambitious defence-industrial cooperation roadmap to fast-track technology collaboration and co-production of existing as well as futuristic weapon systems and platforms. It ranges from air combat, infantry combat vehicles and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) systems to long-range artillery, smart munitions and underwater domain awareness.
The immediate takeaway will be the inking of the major pact between US company General Electric (GE) and defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics to jointly produce GE-F414 turbofan engines in the 98 Kilonewton thrust class in India.
According to a source, “There will be virtually 100% ToT (transfer of technology) for the GE-F414 engines, which will power the indigenous Tejas Mark-2 fighters (existing Tejas Mark-1 jets have less powerful GE-F404 engines procured without any ToT). Other projects like the co-production of Stryker armoured fighting vehicles, long-range artillery and ISR systems are in the discussion stage.”
The roadmap is also likely to facilitate the ToT and setting up of MRO facilities that India is pushing for under the long-pending deal for acquisition of armed Predator or MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones. The deal’s high cost at $3 billion for 30 Predators has led India to cut down the requirement to 18 drones.
During the delegation-level meeting, sources said India briefed the US on the “aggressive intent”shown by China along the 3,488-km line of actual control amid the continuing military confrontation in eastern Ladakh.