In a sign of increasing mutual trust, the US has updated its policy on gas-turbine engine technology transfer to India to expand cooperation in production and design of sensitive jet engine components.
US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter informed Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar of the decision during the latter's visit here.
As a result of this policy update, Carter exuded confidence that the US will be able to expand cooperation in production and design of sensitive jet engine components.
Carter and Parrikar look forward to US companies working with their Indian counterparts to submit transfer requests that will benefit from this updated policy, said a joint statement issued after a meeting between two leaders at the Pentagon yesterday.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed ways and means to move the ambitious Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) forward.
Expressing satisfaction with DTTI progress to date, the two committed themselves to identifying additional projects for possible co-development and co-production of high technology items that meet the transformational intent of DTTI, the joint statement said.
Parrikar and Carter commended positive discussions at the Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation (JWGACTC), especially in the area of Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE), and look forward to continued progress to be achieved at the second meeting of the JWGACTC in February 2016 in India.
They further expressed satisfaction that the Jet Engine Technology Joint Working Group (JETJWG), which met this week in Bengaluru, had concluded its 'Terms of Reference' and had productive discussion on cooperation in this area.
In an interaction with the media, Carter identified DTTI as one very important step in realising the potential of the India-US defence partnership.
DTTI, he noted, fosters technology cooperation, works to build industry-to-industry ties, and identifies opportunities for the co-development and co-production of defence systems.
Carter said he and Parrikar discussed the progress that has been made towards cooperation on jet engines and aircraft carrier design and construction as well as opportunities to collaborate on additional projects of interest, which will also further Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' policy.
Parrikar said their desire is to further collaborate in the higher-end technologies within the framework of DTTI.
"The assurance I have, and I am confident of that India is placed at a level which would ensure that red tapism is cut. I think this is the biggest take home one can get. We have got a very clear promise and we have been experiencing it that our issues are fast-tracked," he told reporters.
