India-US defence Ties: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in the United States to meet President Donald Trump. This is their first meeting since Trump returned to the White House for his second term. PM Modi has several important topics to discuss with Trump, including trade tariffs and defense deals. India has not faced new tariffs from the US so far, which is good news for the country.
One of the issues on the table is the problem of illegal Indian immigrants in the US. However, the focus of the meeting will be on defense. PM Modi has a big list of defense items he wants to buy from the US to strengthen India’s military.
One of the top items on the list is the Stryker infantry combat vehicle. India wants to buy and build these vehicles in partnership with General Dynamics, the company that makes them. The Stryker is a strong, wheeled armoured vehicle used in battle. It can carry soldiers and weapons and is very useful in combat. India plans to buy a few hundred of these vehicles in two steps. First, they will import a small number, and then they will make more in India with some changes.
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P-8 military patrol aircraft
PM Modi wants to buy six more P-8 military patrol aircraft from the US. These planes are made by Boeing and are used for long-range missions, like hunting submarines and gathering information. According to First Post, India already has 12 of these aircraft, but with China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean, India needs more to protect its waters.
F-414 jet engine
Another important item on the list is the F-414 jet engine. India wants to make these engines in the country for its Tejas Mark-II fighter jets. The deal is worth about $1.5 billion, and 80% of the technology will be shared with India. This will help India build its own engines instead of just buying them from other countries.
MQ-9B drones
PM Modi is also pushing for the delivery of 31 MQ-9B drones. These drones are very advanced and can fly for a long time at high altitudes. They are used for surveillance and can help India keep an eye on its borders, especially in areas like Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the Himalayan region near China. India signed a deal for these drones last year, and they are expected to arrive by 2029.
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MH-60R Seahawk helicopters
PM Modi wants to make sure India gets the MH-60R Seahawk helicopters on time. These helicopters are made by Lockheed Martin and are used by the US Navy for anti-submarine and anti-ship missions. India plans to use them to detect and fight enemy submarines and ships in the ocean.
India-US defence Ties
India and the US have been working closely on defense deals for many years. Since 2008, India has bought more than $20 billion worth of military equipment from the US. President Trump has been encouraging India to buy more weapons from the US, possibly to reduce India’s reliance on Russia, which has been its main defense partner for a long time.
This meeting between PM Modi and President Trump is very important for India’s defense plans. The deals they discuss could help India become stronger and more self-reliant in protecting its borders and interests.
