By Air Marshal Anil Chopra (r)
On October 15, India and the US concluded a ₹32,000 crore ($3.8 billion) agreement for the acquisition of 31 Predator MQ-9B drones and the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India. The armed High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) is manufactured by USA’s General Atomics. The deal was based on an inter-governmental agreement via the US Foreign Military Sales program. 15 will go to the Indian Navy (IN), and 8 each to the Indian Army (IA) and the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Drones will be supplied by 2027.
Earlier last month, during Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the US, the two countries concluded the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA) agreement. SOSA is a key enabling pact, which would allow closer defence industry cooperation between the US and India. The next step will be the signing of the Reciprocal Defence Procurement Agreement (RDP) which will be legally binding. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has also been signed regarding the assignment of Liaison Officers to each other’s select defence formations, to seek to bolster defence ties between the two countries.
The end of the Cold War and the growing US interest in taking on China in the Indo-Pacific brought the USA closer to India. Since the turn of the century, there has been increased activity in security fields with many military-industrial logistics and communication-related agreements. As India and USA further its geo-strategic interests views and vision are congruent. The militaries are exercising more regularly and need logistics agreements. India needs some high-end technology to further ‘Atmanirbharta’ in defence production. The USA needed assurance about communications security and end-use of equipment and technologies. The military-industrial complexes of both countries wanted to engage much more and without sensitivities and hindrances. And therefore the continued need for agreements. Military aviation uses the highest level technologies and obsolescence sets in much faster. The greatest beneficiary of the Indo-US cooperation has been the military aviation.
Logistics and Communication Agreements
In 2002, the two countries signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) to facilitate the sharing of military intelligence between India and the USA. The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) was signed in 2016 which allowed the two countries to use each other’s military bases to carry out repairs and for resupplying during exercises and transit of ships, and aircraft.
Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) signed in 2018, allowed to share and secure communications exchange between the two during training exercises and operations. The agreement allowed India to procure and transfer specialized equipment for encrypted communications for US-origin military platforms like the C-17, C-130, and P-8Is, thus improving operational efficiency.
And in 2020, the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) was signed. The BECA focuses on providing American geospatial intelligence to India. Geospatial intelligence is the intelligence on human activity that is gathered by closely examining satellite images and other allied information. This agreement was signed in the backdrop of deteriorating US-China relations and the India-China border clash in the Galwan Valley. Using these accurate maps and satellite images, India can enhance its topographical and aeronautical data which will aid in its guarding its borders more effectively.
Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA)
In recent years, US has emerged as the biggest defence importer of India-made subsystems, which has contributed significantly to the big jump in India’s defence exports. SOSA would give US companies more freedom and allow them to widen their base in India by manufacturing and sourcing from within the country. The US has signed SOSA with 18 other nations including a few non-allies and non-NATO countries.
SOSA will allow the US to request priority delivery for its contracts, subcontracts, or orders from companies in India. Similarly, it also permits signatory nations to request priority delivery for their contracts and orders from American firms. The arrangement will enable both countries to acquire the industrial resources they need from one another to resolve unanticipated supply chain disruptions to meet national security needs.
The US will provide India assurances under the US Defence Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS), which will be supported by the Department of Defence (DoD) and rating authorization by the Department of Commerce (DOC). In turn, India will establish a government-industry understanding, wherein Indian firms will voluntarily make reasonable efforts to provide US priority support. The SOSA encourages the defence industrial ecosystems of both countries to work together and enhances supply chain resilience. SOSA will also support commonality and strengthen interoperability.
The arrangement will be institutionalized, furthered and supervised by specially designated and created working groups. These groups will also proactively iron out hindrances to supply-chain in peacetime, emergency, and armed conflict. The SOSA represented an important moment in the US-India major defence partner relationship and will be a key factor in strengthening the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) between the two countries. But SOSA has no legal bindings.
Reciprocal Defence Procurement (RDP) Agreement
The next logical step after the SOSA is to make it binding on companies to prioritize the selection of the other, eventually opening up joint production and sourcing on a larger scale. It will also pave the way for standardization, interchangeability, and in turn interoperability of conventional defence equipment. The US has signed Reciprocal Defence Procurement (RDP) agreements with 28 countries.
Such an agreement would provide a framework for interaction regarding market access and procurement matters. The agreement will also allow American companies to bypass the “Buy American statute” and more easily allow them to set up manufacturing bases in India.
Liaison Officers MOU
Based on an earlier joint decision, India had deployed three colonel-level officers, one each at the Hawaii-headquartered Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), the Special Operations Command (SOCOM/USSOCOM) in Florida, and the US-led multinational maritime force, called the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), in Bahrain early this year. The above arrangements are over and above the increased number of defence attaches, keeping in view India’s overall global stature and defence and security profile.
US-India Strategic Congruence
The US interest in containing competitor and possible rival China brought India into the USA’s Indo-Pacific strategy. India needed US cooperation on global security matters; support for the inclusion of India in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC); a greater role in the World Bank and IMF; and admission into multilateral export control regimes like Nuclear Suppliers Group, MTCR, Wassenaar Arrangement, and Australia Group. Post 2000, USA became more open to selling high-end military equipment to India.
India is an important member of Quad now. All four partners have regular summit-level and 2+2 minister-level meetings. There are military logistics agreements between all, and they all take part in regular military exercises. USA has been supplying military equipment.
USA Military Aircraft in India
Among the increasing cooperation in defence, aviation has seen the fastest results. IAF first ordered the Lockheed C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft in early 2008 for special operations under US government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Indian Navy received the Boeing P-8I Poseidon for maritime surveillance, Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) roles. In 2009, the IAF inducted three specially equipped Boeing 737 Business Jet (BBJ) for VVIP duties. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlift military transport aircraft were inducted next. Two custom-made B-777 have also been procured to replace the older Air India B-747 jumbo jets for VVIP duties. Boeing Apache Longbow AH-64E attack helicopters and Boeing CH-47 D/F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters formed the rotary-wing purchases. In June 2017, the US State Department approved the sale of General Atomics MQ-9 Guardian/Predator-B long-range unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) drones to India. Two had been on lease with the Indian Navy since 2020. The deal was finally signed this October.
Lockheed Martin Big in India
Lockheed Martin, the world’s biggest arms manufacturer, is looking for a “game-changing” partnership in India. They have a joint-venture company with TASL where airframe components for the C-130J airlifter and the S-92 helicopter are manufactured in India in large numbers. All C-130Js delivered to customers around the world have major aero-structure components from India. TASL has been chosen to produce the F-16s in India. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin is promoting many defence and aerospace start-ups. Lockheed Martin also provides research grants for teams from Indian universities to work with local industry partners to develop design specifications.
Boeing Make-in-India
Other than the civil airliners, Boeing also has a huge presence in military aircraft with Indian Air Force’s (IAF) C-17, BBJ, VVIP B-777, Chinook and Apache helicopters, and Indian Navy’s P-8I.
A public-private partnership brings together Boeing, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and Mahindra’s global scale, manufacturing and supply chain expertise. HAL has been the single-source producer of 757 over-wing exit doors. HAL has also manufactured the 777 up-lock boxes, F/A-18 gun bay doors, F/A-18 wire harnesses, P-8I weapons bay doors, and P-8I identification friend-or-foe transponders. BEL is also on contract to provide F/A-18 flight deck cockpit panels. HAL makes gun-bay doors for the F/A-18.
Boeing has invested in engineering centres in Bengaluru and Chennai with a talented pool of over 3,000 engineers. Boeing’s joint venture with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) is for aerospace and defence manufacturing in India. TASL is already manufacturing aero-structures for CH-47 Chinook and Apache helicopters, including for global customers.
Boeing is also working with many others like Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Dynamatic Technologies (DTL), Tata Advanced Materials Limited (TAML), TAL Manufacturing Solutions Ltd, Avantel Ltd, and Cyient (formerly Infotech), among others.
General Electric (GE)
GE Aviation is the world’s leading producer of large and small engines for commercial, military, business and general aircraft. GE supplies F404IN20 engines for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’ Mk-1. The F414-INS6 engines are selected to power the Mk-2 version. These will be made in India through a technology transfer clause. GE has joined with Tata Group to make LEAP engines in India.
India Innovation Growth Program
As a part of its larger commitment, Lockheed Martin has sponsored and supported the India Innovation Growth Program (IIGP) since 2007 in partnership with the Indian Department of Science and Technology, Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Stanford Graduate School of Business, and the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas. IIGP has supported more than 400 innovators and start-ups with in-depth technology commercialization training and handholding support to commercialize and scale their ventures. To date, the revenue generated for Indian entrepreneurs through this program is over $1 billion.
Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI)
The India-US Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) was signed in 2012. DTTI’s main aim is to strengthen India’s defence industrial base, explore new areas of technological development and expand Indo-US business ties. The DTTI has now matured enough that its varied activities could be translated into accomplishments. Among the ambitious projects identified is a plan to share jet engine technology, an initiative that has floundered given a strict export control regime in the US and the lack of a strong business case. Focus on start-ups is likely to enable US-based research labs to work in coordination with Indian companies for cutting-edge defence technologies. In addition, the two sides are also discussing the possibility of jointly developing systems for approved third nations to pursue export opportunities.
Strategic Trade Authorization (STA)
United States has designated India as a Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA-1) country that will allow the country to buy highly advanced and cutting-edge sensitive technologies from America. This coveted status brings India on par with USA’s closest allies and partners such as NATO, Japan, South Korea and Australia. With this, there is an ease in restrictions for high-technology product sales to India, and India will receive license-free access to a wide range of dual-use technologies in conjunction with steps that India has committed to take to advance its export control objectives. It will benefit U.S. manufacturers while continuing to protect its national security. Bilateral defence trade, which was essentially zero in 2008, had reached $22 billion by the end of 2022.
US-India Business Council (USIBC)
The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) was formed in 1975 as a business advocacy organization to enlighten and encourage the private sectors of both India and the United States to enhance investment flows. The organization serves as a direct link between business and Government leaders, resulting in increased trade and investment to strengthen ties between the two nations. Aerospace and defence are a major area today.
Defence Policy Group (DPG)
The India-US Defence Policy Group (DPG) in Washington is the top official-level meeting mechanism between India and the US on defence issues, which comprehensively reviews and guides all aspects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The meetings take stock of the progress made in various fields of defence cooperation, including in defence trade, technology, procurement, industry, R&D and military-to-military engagement. There are various working sub-groups.
Air Exercises
USA and India regularly engage in air exercises. USA, UK, and Australia carried out India’s first multilateral exercise “Shiksha” in 1963 in India. IAF and USAF participate in the bilateral US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF)-sponsored Field Training Exercise (FTX) “Cope India” series, which began in 2004 and is conducted in India. IAF participates in Red-Flag advanced air-combat training exercises in the US and gets exposure to NATO-like air environments. USA had a great presence in the recent Pitch-Black air exercise in Australia where many countries fielded F-35s. All these exercises support interoperability. USA had a large 10 aircrfa6t, 200 personnel contingents for “Tarang Shakti exercise in India in August-September 2024.
Way Ahead
India is already a leader of the Global South. It is fast becoming the most sought-after country. India maintains excellent relations with Russia, Europe and the USA. PM Modi has recently had a very successful visit to Russia, Poland and Ukraine. He attended the QUAD summit in USA in September. He will be visiting Russia soon for the BRICS summit.
India’s relations with USA are also special because the two are the largest and oldest democracies. With increasing security action in the Indo-Pacific defence cooperation has been on the increase. India and US are looking at cooperation in critical minerals and semiconductors.
The recently signed military logistics and communication enabling agreements have supported interoperability. The SOSA and RDP will ease military-industrial cooperation. Both are taking slow but study firm-footed steps as they come closer as global security partners. Military aviation remains the biggest beneficiary of cooperation. In all this, India gets to retain its “Strategic Autonomy”.
Air Marshal Anil Chopra (r) PVSM AVSM VM VSM is the Former Director General of the Centre for Airpower Studies.
