Trump 2.0: Defence Cooperation has acquired a stable momentum, but there are still major challenges that Washington and New Delhi need to address.
Relevance
GS Paper: GS-2 (International Relations), GS-3 (Defence & Technology)
Themes: India-U.S. Strategic Partnership, Defence Procurement, Technology Transfer
Key Highlights
Trump 2.0 – Major Defence Agreements
- India to proceed with co-production of ‘Javelin’ Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) and ‘Stryker’ Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs).
- Boost to domestic defence manufacturing and integration into U.S. supply chains.
- Acquisition of six more P-8I maritime patrol aircraft for Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).
- New 10-year U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership signed, enhancing cooperation in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), air defence, and anti-tank missiles.
Challenges in Defence Cooperation
- Lack of clarity on Transfer of Technology (ToT) for GE Aerospace F-404 and F-414 engines for Tejas fighter jets.
- India’s interest in F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft but faces high integration costs due to existing diverse fleet.
- Revival of Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) project for 114 fighter jets after past delays.
- Concerns over intrusive U.S. monitoring in case of F-35 purchase.
Comparison with Rafale Deal
- U.S. offer of F-35 lacks ToT and co-production, unlike India’s Rafale deal ($244M per jet with weapon systems).
- The Rafale package includes Scalp air-to-ground missiles and Meteor missiles, while F-35 lacks clear weapon commitments.
Analysis & Way Forward
- India should push for ToT in future defence deals to strengthen self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat).
- Balancing ties with U.S. while diversifying defence imports remains key to strategic autonomy.
Mains Mock Question
“Discuss the recent developments in U.S.-India defence ties and their implications for India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing. What challenges do such partnerships pose?”
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