Army Chief General Manoj Pande is set to embark on a significant visit to the United States aimed at further solidifying the bilateral strategic partnership and fostering enhanced military collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.
Scheduled from February 13 to 16, General Pande’s visit coincides with discussions on the joint production of Stryker armoured fighting vehicles, marking a significant stride in expanding defence-industrial cooperation between the two nations.
During his visit, General Pande is slated to engage in comprehensive discussions with US Army Chief General Randy George and other senior officials on a wide array of issues. These discussions will encompass military transformation, co-production initiatives, and strategic challenges such as China’s expansionist behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region.
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Additionally, General Pande will visit several esteemed military establishments, including the Army Geospatial Centre at Fort Belvoir, the National Defence University at Fort McNair, and frontline Stryker and Special Forces units.
The joint manufacture of the eight-wheeled Stryker armoured infantry combat vehicles emerged as a focal point of discussions during the two-plus-two ministerial dialogue held on November 10.
The plan involves co-producing Stryker vehicles, leveraging existing Indian capabilities to enhance firepower and rapid mobility on the battlefield.
Furthermore, final commercial negotiations for the co-production of GE-F414 jet engines for Tejas Mark-II fighters, with a significant transfer of technology, are already underway, with a contract between Hindustan Aeronautics and General Electric expected to be signed imminently.
Moreover, India’s proposed acquisition of 31 MQ-98 high-altitude, long-endurance drones, including 15 Sea Guardians for the Navy and 8 Sky Guardians each for the Army and the IAF, has gained momentum. The Biden administration’s formal notification to the US Congress about the $3.9 billion procurement on February 1 underscores the advancing collaboration between the two countries.
Under the bilateral defence-industrial cooperation roadmap finalized last June, priority areas such as air combat and support, ISR systems, ground mobility systems, undersea domain awareness, and smart munitions have been identified for technology collaboration and co-production.
Additionally, efforts are underway to finalize the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA), a crucial element in integrating defence-industrial ecosystems and strengthening supply chain resilience.
Similarly, a Reciprocal Defence Procurement agreement is also in the pipeline, signalling a deepening of defence ties between India and the US. While progress is evident, further negotiations and discussions are anticipated to materialize these agreements in the near future, underscoring the commitment of both nations to fostering robust defence cooperation and ensuring regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
