As part of a significant visit to the United States, Army Chief General Manoj Pande will seek to strengthen bilateral strategic ties and enhance Indo-Pacific military cooperation. During the scheduled meeting with US Army Chief General Randy George, military transformation, collaborative production initiatives, and regional security concerns, particularly the assertiveness of China, will be discussed. There has been discussion of joint production of Stryker vehicles and co-production of GE-F414 jet engines as part of a broader defence collaboration strategy.
Agenda & Key Talks
During his visit scheduled from Feb 13 to 16, General Pande is expected to participate in discussions with his counterpart, US Army Chief General Randy George, as well as with other senior officials. According to official sources, the agenda will cover a wide range of topics, from military transformation to collaborative production initiatives to addressing issues related to Chinese assertive behavior in the Indo-Pacific region and other security concerns.
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Collaborations in defence
The US and India have been exploring opportunities for the joint manufacture of Stryker armoured infantry vehicles. These vehicles, known for their combination of firepower and battlefield agility, were discussed during the recent two-plus-two ministerial dialogue held on November 10. The discussions aim to leverage India’s existing manufacturing capabilities.
The two-plus-two ministerial dialogue on Nov 10 discussed the possibility of jointly manufacturing the eight-wheeled Stryker armoured infantry combat vehicles, which combine firepower with rapid mobility on the battlefield. According to a source to TOI, the Stryker vehicles will be co-produced with “existing Indian capabilities taken into account”.
For around $1 billion, final commercial negotiations are underway for GE-F414 jet engines to be co-produced in India for the TEJAS MK-2 fighter aircraft, with 80% technology transfer. According to a source to TOI, the contract between Hindustan Aeronautics and General Electric should be signed within one or two months.
Technology advancements in defence
Additionally, negotiations are underway for the co-production of GE-F414 jet engines for India’s Tejas Mark II fighters, in addition to discussions on Stryker vehicles. In the coming months, Hindustan Aeronautics and General Electric expect to finalize the contract, valued at around $1 billion, that involves significant technology transfer.
Moreover, India’s proposed acquisition of 31 MQ-9B high-altitude, long-endurance drones, including Sea Guardians for the Navy and Sky Guardians for the Army and Air Force, valued at $3.9 billion, has been formally notified by the Biden administration to Congress, signaling progress in defense procurement plans.
Collaboration Roadmap
To expedite technology collaboration and co-production, both countries have finalized a roadmap for bilateral defence-industrial cooperation. Air combat and support system capabilities, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, ground mobility systems, undersea domain awareness, and smart munitions are among the priority areas identified in this roadmap.
Supply chain strengthening
The Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA), which aims to integrate defence-industrial ecosystems between India and the US, is one initiative that is intended to enhance supply chain resilience. Additionally, discussions are ongoing for a Reciprocal Defence Procurement agreement, which is expected to take some time to materialize fully.
During General Pande’s visit, both nations underscored their commitment to deepening defence ties and addressing common security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, indicating the evolving dynamics of the India-US strategic partnership.
