India, US to deepen defence engagement

India and the United States have decided to broaden and strengthen their strategic partnership and defence collaboration and focus on ways to maintain the strong momentum of security and defence engagement.

The Indian Navy will also be participating in the Rim-of-the-Pacific (RIMPAC) multilateral naval exercise in 2016 as well while the Indian Air Force will join the multilateral Red Flag exercise in April-May 2016.

Visiting India's defence minister Manohar Parrikar welcomed announcement of US participation in the International Fleet Review of the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam in February 2016.

Parrikar participated as a guest of honor in a Pearl Harbor commemorative ceremony at PACOM, where he also met with Admiral Harry Harris, the PACOM commander and visited various facilities in Honolulu, Hawaii.

At their third meeting at the Pentagon, defence minister Parrikar and US defence secretary Ashton Carter expressed satisfaction at the current momentum in the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) and decided to move it forward.

They also committed to identifying additional projects for possible co-development and co-production of high technology items that meet the transformational intent of DTTI.

Accordingly, the two sides discussed the progress of the joint working group on aircraft carrier technology cooperation (JWGACTC), especially in the area of aircraft launch and recovery equipment (ALRE), and decided to look forward to continued progress to be achieved at the second meeting of the JWGACTC in February 2016 in India.

They further expressed satisfaction that the Jet Engine Technology Joint Working Group (JETJWG), which met this week in Bengaluru, had concluded its Terms of Reference and had productive discussion on cooperation in this area.

Secretary Carter informed Parrikar that in light of the strengthening relationship between the US and India, the US department of defence has updated its policy on gas turbine engine technology transfer to India. This, he said, will expand cooperation in production and design of jet engine components.

The two said they are now looking forward to US companies working with their Indian counterparts to submit transfer requests that will benefit from this updated policy.

Carter welcomed India's participation in the Rim-of-the-Pacific (RIMPAC) multilateral naval exercise in 2016 as well as participation by the Indian Air Force in the multilateral Red Flag exercise in April-May 2016, and expressed support for greater Air-to-Air interaction in the future.

Parrikar welcomed announcement of US participation in the International Fleet Review of the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam in February 2016.

They discussed a wide range of regional security issues, including the threat posed by ISIL and entities such as Al-Qa'ida and its affiliates, Lashkar-e-Tayibba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, D Company, the Haqqani Network, and other regional terror groups. The two also discussed ways to implement the defence-related aspects of Prime Minister Modi and President Obama's Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.

During his visit, Parrikar also met with senior National Security Council officials and members of Congress.