US-India Defence Agreements

Key Milestones in India-US Defence Cooperation:

• 2023 US-India Roadmap for Defence Industrial Cooperation:Priority areas of cooperation identified in the roadmap included Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Undersea Domain Awareness, Air Combat and Support, including Aero engines, munitions systems, and mobility.
• iCET (Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology):The iCET is spearheaded by the National Security Councils of both countries. It focuses on strengthening the US-India partnership on the technologies that will drive global growth, bolster both countries' economic competitiveness, and protect shared national security interests.
• INDUS-X: INDUS-X, or the India-U.S. Defence Accelerator Ecosystem, is a defense innovation bridge between the United States and India that was launched in 2023. It establishes the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem to enhance defence innovation.
• Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) of 2016 established the basic terms, conditions, and procedures for reciprocal provision of logistic support, supplies, and services between the two militaries.
• Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), an India-specific version of the Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA), was signed in 2018 to secure military communication between the countries, facilitate access to advanced defence systems, and enable India to optimally utilise its existing US-origin platforms.
• The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) of 2020 aimed to facilitate the sharing of military information including maps, nautical charts, and other unclassified imagery and data.

Other Achievements

• Major Defence Partner Status, 2016: India was designated as a Major Defence Partner by the US.
• Strategic Trade Authorisation Tier 1 Status, 2018: Provides India with licence-free access to US military and dual-use technologies.

Military Procurement Highlights:

• Procurements: MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, Sig Sauer Rifles, M777 ultra-light howitzers.
• Ongoing Negotiations: Manufacturing GE F-414 jet engines in India for LCA MK 2 fighters, procuring 31 MQ-9B High-Altitude Long-Endurance UAVs, and delivering GE-F404 engines for LCA Tejas Mark-1A.