India-US defence relationship advancing in terrific, thrilling methods: Pentagon | Newest Information India

“The US-India defence relationship stands by itself. It’s accelerating and advancing in terrific and thrilling methods, each because it pertains to defence industrial base cooperation in addition to operational cooperation throughout the providers,” Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Safety Affairs, instructed reporters at a information convention right here.

“It (the India-US defence ties) is a seamless development space, even because the India-China relationship waxes and wanes,” Ratner mentioned in response to a query.

India has been accorded the standing of the Main Defence Partnership by america. Biden administration officers have described the defence ties as one of many key pillars of this relationship.

In October, India concluded an settlement with the US for the procurement of 31 Basic Atomics MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) remotely-piloted plane and their related tools, which can improve the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of India’s armed forces throughout all domains.

India and the US concluded the Safety of Provide Association (SOSA) this yr, enhancing the mutual provide of defence items and providers.

Throughout their assembly in September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Biden dedicated to advancing ongoing discussions on aligning their respective defence procurement programs to additional allow the reciprocal provide of defence items and providers.