India – US Defence Cooperation

Convincing India That It Is A Superpower

6 07 2009

The 'New Framework in the India-US Defence Relationship' signed between the Defence Minister of India and the US Secretary of Defence on June 28, 2005 charts a course for defence relations in the coming years as an element of the broader strategic partnership between India and the United States.

Under the New Framework, India and USA agreed to:

a) Conduct joint and combined exercises and exchanges;
b) Collaborate in multinational operations if it is in common interest;
c) Strengthen capabilities of militaries to promote security and defeat terrorism;
d) Promote regional and global peace and stability;
e) Enhance capabilities to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
f) Increase opportunities for technology transfer, collaboration, co-production, and research and development;
g) Expand collaboration relating to missile defence;
h) Strengthen abilities of the Armed Forces to respond quickly to disasters, including in combined operations;
i) Conduct successful peacekeeping operations;
j) Conduct and increase exchanges of intelligence.

Under the New Framework, the institutionalized framework for cooperation was further strengthened with the establishment of Defence Procurement and Production Group and the Defence Joint Working Group, under the comprehensive bilateral mechanism of the Defence Policy Group.

The India-US Joint Declaration, issued by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W Bush in March 2006, welcomed increased bilateral cooperation in the defence area under the New Framework, evidenced by successful joint exercises, information sharing, and greater opportunities to jointly develop technologies and address security and humanitarian issues. They reaffirmed commitment to protect free flow of commerce and safety of navigation, and agreed to conclude a Maritime Security Cooperation Framework to develop new avenues of maritime cooperation and to pursue cooperation in the prevention of trans-national crimes at sea such as piracy, armed robbery, smuggling and trafficking in arms and drugs, carry out search and rescue operations, combat maritime pollution, respond to natural disasters, address emergent threats and enhance cooperative capabilities, including through logistics support.

Visits

The dialogue between the two countries on defence cooperation-related issues has been ongoing. It received further direction with the visit of US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to India on February 26-27, 2008 and the visit of Raksha Mantri to USA from September 7-10, 2008 at the invitation of Secretary Gates.

Institutional Mechanisms for Dialogue

The Defence Policy Group gives policy level direction to defence cooperation, reviews all matters and resolves broader defence cooperation policy issues. Various institutional mechanisms under the DPG which coordinate and implement defence cooperation in specific areas include:

Defence Joint Working Group (DJWG) – this undertakes mid-year review of progress made in the fulfillment of decisions taken by the DPG. It also reviews matters, which need to be taken up by the DPG.

Senior Technology Security Group (STSG) – this is charged with undertaking review of technology security issues and also increase mutual understanding of each other's policies and systems in respect of technology security for defence-related equipment.

Defence Procurement and Production Group (DPPG) – this reviews opportunities for cooperation in defence acquisition, transfer of technology/collaboration and defence related industries.

Joint Technical Group (JTG) – this look at potential for cooperation in defence research and development.

Military Cooperation Group (MCG) – reviews Services-related cooperation matters and inter-service coordination.

Service-to-Service Executive Steering Groups (ESGs) – these review service-to-service cooperation and report to the Military Cooperation Group.

Concluded Agreements

a) Agreement for Security Measures for Protection of Classified Military Information signed on January 2002 (GSOMIA)
b) Master Information Exchange Agreement (MIEA) to facilitate exchange of defence R&D and information, signed in February 2004
c) Research Development Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E) Agreement signed in January 2006.
Other agreements are under negotiation.

Joint Exercises

Joint Exercises between the three Services have improved in scale and frequency since the signing of the New Framework.

Indian Army has been involved in joint exercises with the US Army on low intensity conflict in jungle terrain, counter terrorism and counter insurgency. Ex- Shatrujeet was recently held at California, USA from March 10-24, 2008. Ex- Yudh Abhyas 08 Brigade Command Post Exercise is scheduled to be held at Hawaii, USA from October 30-Nov 12, 2008. Ex- Vajra Prahar 08-1 was held at CIJW School, Vairengate from August 4-24, 2008 and Ex- Vajra Prahar 08-2 was held at Guam at USA from August 05-25, 2008.
The Indian Navy conducts the Malabar series of exercises with the US Navy involving contraband control operations, sea control operations, air defence exercises, sea replenishment including fuel transfer, cross-deck flying etc., In 2008, Ex- Malabar CY 08 is scheduled off Goa from October 24-28, 2008. The 3rd HABU NAG (EOTTX) was held from September 1-14, 2008 in Visakhapatnam.

The Indian Air Force participated in the multinational air exercise EX RED FLAG at the Nellis AFB, USA in August 2008. IAF participation included eight SU-30s and two IL-78 air-to-air refueller aircraft, one IL-76 transport aircraft and a ten member GARUD team. The contingent comprised a total of 247 personnel.

Industry Linkages

The AEROINDIA and annual DEFEXPO shows have seen very good participation from US companies in recent times, an indicator of their serious interest in the Indian defence market. Several major US defence corporations have established presence in India and are operating directly (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, GE, to name a few). India's revised Defence Procurement Policy, which came into effect on September 1, 2008 aims to make procurement more transparent, impartial and accountable. Recent changes in India's Offsets Credit Banking seek to promote indigenous defence industry while enabling foreign vendors to create offset programs in anticipation of future obligations.