Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with top executives from major US defence companies on Friday to promote India’s growing role as a hub for defence exports and to highlight co-development and co-production opportunities. The roundtable, organized by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, featured representatives from leading firms such as General Electric, Boeing, General Atomics, General Dynamics Land Systems, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, and Rolls Royce.
During the meeting, Singh emphasized India’s commitment to forging strong partnerships and joint ventures with US companies. He underscored the reforms undertaken by the Indian government to make the country an attractive destination for foreign original equipment manufacturers and a significant player in the global defence export market.
“Partnership and joint efforts are the two keywords that differentiate India’s defence industry from others,” Singh stated. He encouraged the companies to collaborate with Indian counterparts to advance the ‘Make in India’ initiative and achieve self-reliance in the defence sector. Singh highlighted that such collaborations would enable both Indian and US companies to co-develop and co-produce advanced military technology for the global market.
Singh’s visit aligns with ongoing negotiations involving major defence deals. Notably, last year, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and General Electric signed a memorandum of understanding for the transfer of technology and the manufacturing of F414 aero-engines for the future light combat aircraft (LCA Mk-2). The joint production of these engines is expected to bridge significant technology gaps and enhance India’s capabilities in indigenous development and export of larger jet engines. However, the LCA Mk-1A programme is experiencing delays due to a 10-month setback in the supply of F404 engines, attributed to supply chain issues at GE.
Further negotiations include a potential deal for 31 MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft systems from General Atomics and six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from Boeing. Additionally, Lockheed Martin is fulfilling a contract to supply the Indian Navy with MH-60R helicopters.
Singh’s visit also included discussions with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, focusing on deepening defence industrial cooperation. The two countries are advancing a new roadmap for defence collaboration, aimed at accelerating technology cooperation and joint production in areas such as air combat, land mobility, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, munitions, and undersea operations.
India’s defence sector has seen significant progress, with a notable increase in military exports and a reduction in imports due to policy reforms over the past decade. The country’s defence exports reached ₹6,915 crore during April-June 2024, marking a 78% increase compared to the same period in 2023. India’s defence exports are on track to meet a target of ₹50,000 crore annually by 2028-29. The defence ministry reported a 32.5% growth in defence exports for the fiscal year 2023-24, totaling ₹21,000 crore, reflecting a significant expansion in the sector.
Singh’s engagement with US defence leaders underscores India’s strategic push to become a key player in the global defence market through enhanced international collaborations and advanced manufacturing capabilities.
Sources By Agencies
