Enhanced India-US Defence Cooperation
India and the United States are poised to elevate their defence cooperation significantly, marked by the US's decision to reverse a long-standing prohibition on the sale of fifth generation fighter jets to India. This marks a pivotal shift in their bilateral defence relations.
US-India COMPACT Initiative
- Introduction of US-India COMPACT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump introduced the US-India COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology).
- This initiative sets a results-driven agenda for cooperation with immediate outcomes planned within the current year.
- It includes joint production of autonomous weapon systems focused on enhancing Indo-Pacific security.
- Defence Partnership Agreement: A new framework for defence partnership has been established.
- Review of US ITAR Rules: The initiative involves reviewing the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to facilitate technology sharing.
Sale of Fifth Generation F-35 Fighter Jets
- US's Agreement to Sell F-35 Jets: A significant outcome of the cooperation is the US's decision to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to India.
- The acquisition process is expected to take time due to bureaucratic procedures on both sides.
- This decision is groundbreaking as India is granted special exceptions to acquire the jets, surpassing even NATO partners' privileges.
- Historical Context: The US had previously denied F-35 jets to India due to India's use of Russian-origin S 400 air defence systems, which could potentially compromise the stealth features of the jets by analyzing their radar signatures.
