Indian, US Officials to Seek Ways to Boost Defence Partnership
(NSI News Source Info) August 19, 2008: With the Indo-US nuclear agreement firmly on track, the two countries are to open talks soon at the highest level to further boost up security and defence partnership. As India's military hardware purchases are expected to touch a staggering USD 50 billion in the next five years and to almost USD 100 billion by the next decade after New Delhi's Russian and Soviet-era arsenal reaches obsolescence, the two countries are looking at starting joint collaborations and research in advanced weapon systems. Towards this end, the two countries, officials said, were looking at concluding key agreements to open doors for transfer of advanced American technology to India. These issues would be in sharp focus when Defence Minister A K Antony undertakes his maiden visit to US from 7th to 10th September. Antony would be leading a high-level delegation comprising Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, Lt-Gen V K Singh, currently General-Officer-Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Army Command, who is probably slated to take over as the next Army chief. The delegation would also include Air Marshal S Mukherjee, currently the Air Officer Personnel at Air Headquarters, who has served a stint in Washington as a Defence Attache and S K Sharma, Director General Acquisitions in Ministry of Defence. The US, which has been comparatively a new entrant to the Indian defence market, is hoping to lay groundwork for far wider cooperation between the two nations in arms building and setting up strategic security related partnerships. US defence majors Lockheed Martin and Boeing are vying for India's largest ever defence contract worth USD 10 billion to sell 126 fighter jets. Lockheed Martin, earlier this year, made a start by inking a deal worth USD 962 million for sale of six C130-J Hercules military transport aircraft for Indian special forces. The company is hoping to sell four more aircraft and missile-approach warning systems to India by 2010. Antony's agenda during his talks with his US counterpart Robert Gates would be to substantially increase the complex range of naval, air force and army war games jointly being conducted by the armed forces of the two countries. With the Left parties in India opting out of supporting the Congress-led UPA government, Washington and New Delhi are also expected to give final touches to key defence protocols between the two countries such as end-user verification agreement and sewing up the logistics support agreement. During his visit, Antony and his entourage would also also visit key US armed forces' complexes including viewing the missile defence shield and other advanced armament systems.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Indian, US Officials to Seek Ways to Boost Defence Partnership
Indian, US Officials to Seek Ways to Boost Defence Partnership
(NSI News Source Info) August 19, 2008: With the Indo-US nuclear agreement firmly on track, the two countries are to open talks soon at the highest level to further boost up security and defence partnership. As India's military hardware purchases are expected to touch a staggering USD 50 billion in the next five years and to almost USD 100 billion by the next decade after New Delhi's Russian and Soviet-era arsenal reaches obsolescence, the two countries are looking at starting joint collaborations and research in advanced weapon systems. Towards this end, the two countries, officials said, were looking at concluding key agreements to open doors for transfer of advanced American technology to India. These issues would be in sharp focus when Defence Minister A K Antony undertakes his maiden visit to US from 7th to 10th September. Antony would be leading a high-level delegation comprising Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, Lt-Gen V K Singh, currently General-Officer-Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Army Command, who is probably slated to take over as the next Army chief. The delegation would also include Air Marshal S Mukherjee, currently the Air Officer Personnel at Air Headquarters, who has served a stint in Washington as a Defence Attache and S K Sharma, Director General Acquisitions in Ministry of Defence. The US, which has been comparatively a new entrant to the Indian defence market, is hoping to lay groundwork for far wider cooperation between the two nations in arms building and setting up strategic security related partnerships. US defence majors Lockheed Martin and Boeing are vying for India's largest ever defence contract worth USD 10 billion to sell 126 fighter jets. Lockheed Martin, earlier this year, made a start by inking a deal worth USD 962 million for sale of six C130-J Hercules military transport aircraft for Indian special forces. The company is hoping to sell four more aircraft and missile-approach warning systems to India by 2010. Antony's agenda during his talks with his US counterpart Robert Gates would be to substantially increase the complex range of naval, air force and army war games jointly being conducted by the armed forces of the two countries. With the Left parties in India opting out of supporting the Congress-led UPA government, Washington and New Delhi are also expected to give final touches to key defence protocols between the two countries such as end-user verification agreement and sewing up the logistics support agreement. During his visit, Antony and his entourage would also also visit key US armed forces' complexes including viewing the missile defence shield and other advanced armament systems.
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