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OPINION MAY 09, 2025 | The Indian Eye 9

amid its deteriorating ties with Beijing. needs strategic urgency given rapidly
As per SIPRI’s 2024 report, Rus- evolving security threats and techno-
sia is India’s major supplier. India’s logical advancements from China.
existing Russian inventory requires Beijing’s debut of its sixth-genera-
ongoing cooperation for mainte- tion fighter aircraft, and the potential
nance, spare parts and upgrades. De- transfer of fifth-generation fighters to
spite the decline in Russia’s share in Pakistan significantly alter the region-
India’s defense imports in the recent al balance of air power, detrimental to
years, a complete transition will occur both India and US’s interests.
at a slow pace, requiring continued Simultaneously, India’s own in-
partnership between both the coun- digenous fifth-generation fighter
tries for operational readiness of the programme—the Advanced Medi-
Indian Military. um Combat Aircraft (AMCA)—con-
tinues to face delays, constraining
INDIA’S STRATEGIC PIVOT India’s ability to independently field
TO THE US A projection of India’s growing partnership with the US reflects several promises through various next-generation air capabilities in
acceleration programs, investor confidence and bi-partisan support from the US (Agency file photo) the near term. Lastly, as the evolving
ndia–US defense ties are part of character of future battlefields are
one of the most transformation- increasingly becoming high-tech in-
Ial bilateral relationships of the tries, translating several initiatives into CHALLENGES IN US–INDIA fused and software defined with fast-
21st century. Strategic convergence commercial defense linkages. Some DEFENSE PARTNERSHIP er kill-chains, both the countries can
marked by shared interests in the immediate developments include leverage on their respective industrial
Indo-Pacific, India’s ‘Make in India’ General Atomics announcement of espite significant strides in the capabilities particularly in autono-
synergy through joint ventures, tech- three partnerships—with 114ai for AI India–US defense partner- mous weapons like Unmanned Aerial
nology transfers and domestic man- and ISR, with Bharat Forge for manu- Dship, potential collaboration Vehicles (UAVs), anti-drone weapon
ufacturing, a pivot from Russian de- facture and assembling of MQ-9 com- remains mired in each country’s pro- systems, maritime surface and under-
pendence on arms, highlight some of ponents in India, and with 3rdiTech cedural morass and challenges such ground systems, quantum technolo-
the key factors of India’s enduring de- for semiconductors. Other partner- as technology transfer restrictions and gies, among others.
fense ties with the US. This promising ships include Boeing’s Liquid Robotic timely project execution. For instance,
relationship is also marked by India’s with several key Indian defense play- while the 2023 GE-HAL MoU to CONCLUSION
growing relevance in the Indo-Pacific ers for manufacture of USVs, Sky- co-produce F414 jet engines marked
for the US, as it seeks to secure a re- dio’s partnership with Aeroarc, and progress, delays in predecessor F404 hile Russia continues to
liant defense industrial partner in the much recent Ultra maritime partner- deliveries postponed India’s MiG re- play a role in sustaining In-
region to advance its interests through ship with Bharat dynamics. tirements, highlighting trust and com- Wdia’s operational readiness
allies and partners, amid evolving A projection of India’s growing patibility issues. Similarly, the US$ 3.8 through MRO of legacy platforms, its
geopolitical challenges. partnership with the US reflects sev- billion MQ-9B drone deal took eight declining reliability and closer align-
The US recognition of India as eral promises through various accel- years to materialize, while earlier ef- ment with China complicate the part-
a ‘Major Defense Partner’ in 2016 eration programs, investor confidence forts, like the transfer of EMALS for nership. In contrast, India’s growing
followed up by key agreements like and bi-partisan support from the Indian aircraft carriers, failed due to defense cooperation with the US, un-
Communications Compatibility and US. For example, in 2021, the Biden regulatory hurdles. US export controls derpinned by initiatives like iCET, IN-
Security Agreement (COMCASA), administration notified Congress of like ITAR complicate approvals, im- DUS-X, and recent deals like COM-
Logistics Exchange Memorandum of potential arms sales to India totaling paired by inter-departmental consul- PACT and TRUST, offers a pathway
Agreement (LEMOA) and Basic Ex- just over US$ 2.5 billion. By 2023, se- tations and post-export compliance. to advanced technologies, defense in-
change and Cooperation Agreement curity cooperation between the US Further, India’s non-NATO status novation and enhanced self-reliance.
for Geospatial Intelligence (BECA) and India had deepened, marked by adds to these delays owing to several However, navigating these partner-
between 2016 and 2023 mark the in- high-profile visits from both nations’ compliance and procedural require- ships requires overcoming procedur-
creasing ties and synergy between officials. ments. On India’s side, bureaucratic al hurdles and expediency in revising
both the players. Despite lagging de- In 2024 alone, the US notified inefficiencies, regulatory bottlenecks existing structures and mechanisms
velopments observed under previous Congress of over US$ 5 billion in po- and US concerns over India’s intel- given increasing threats and techno-
initiatives like Defense Technology tential arms sales to India, and the lectual property ecosystem deter US logical advancements from China and
and Trade Initiative (DTTI), initia- recent US–India summit in February start-ups and limit technology trans- changing operational ecosystem for
tives like industrial security annex 2025 has seen several breakthroughs fer potential. To address these issues, future warfare.
and Strategic Trade Authorization in defense and technology including both nations must streamline export Rohith Narayan Stambamkadi is
(STA) status authorized by the US initiatives such as US–India COM- processes, align timelines with STA-1 the founder of the Indian Forum for
to India gave increasing boost to the PACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for principles and priorities frequent trials Public Diplomacy (IFPD), a non-profit
ties. Recent initiatives like iCET and Military Partnership, Accelerated for smoother execution. India should advocating civilian-led strategic studies
India–US Defense Acceleration Eco- Commerce & Technology) for the further revamp regulatory frame- in India.
system (INDUS-X), with involve- 21st century and US–India TRUST works to foster private sector engage-
ment of private sector, academia (Transforming the Relationship Uti- ment, ensuring projects are executed Views expressed are of the author and
and a range of organizations, mark lizing Strategic Technology). Both efficiently, boosting trust and unlock- do not necessarily reflect the views of
a significant development that aim the countries also announced the es- ing the partnership’s full potential. the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
to cultivate a rich defense innova- tablishment of Autonomous Systems These challenges were highlight- Government of India.
tion ecosystem and opportunities for Industry Alliance (ASIA), emphasiz- ed in the recent February 2025 summit
co-development and co-production. ing on AI-enabled systems to scale where both the partners agreed to re- The full version of this article first ap-
Since its commencement in June private industry partnerships and pro- view their respective regulatory stan- peared in the Comments section of the
2023, INDUS-X has been swift to ini- duction in the Indo-Pacific, and US dards impairing or delaying defense website (www.idsa.in) of Manohar Par-
tiate meaningful progress in key areas sale of its fifth generation F-35 fighter and technology partnerships. Never- rikar Institute for Defense Studies and
of defense between both the coun- aircraft to India. theless, addressing these challenges Analyses, New Delhi, on April 30, 2025

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