India: India and the United States have concluded a roadmap for defence industry cooperation for the next few years, a move expected to bolster New Delhi’s defence manufacturing ambitions.

Washington is working to deepen ties with the world’s largest arms importer and sees deeper military-to-military and technology ties with the South Asian country as a key counterweight to China’s dominance in the region.

The roadmap was finalised at a meeting between visiting US Defense Secretary Mr. Lloyd Austin and Indian Defence Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh in New Delhi.

The agreement comes weeks before Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi visits Washington on June 22 for an official state visit and holds talks with US President Mr. Joe Biden.

Talks between Mr. Singh and Mr. Austin had a “particular focus on identifying ways to strengthen industrial cooperation”, a statement by the Indian defence ministry noted.

“Both sides will identify opportunities for co-development of new technologies and co-production of existing and new systems and facilitate increased collaboration between the defence start-up ecosystems of the two countries. Towards these objectives, they concluded a roadmap for US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation which shall guide the policy direction for the next few years,” the statement added.

India depends on Russia for nearly half its military supplies but has also increasingly diversified its sources to buy from the US, France, and Israel, among other nations.

“India is looking to buy 18 high-altitude, long-endurance armed drones from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc for an estimated $1.5 billion to $2 billion. The aircraft would likely be deployed along its restive borders with China and Pakistan and in the strategic Indian Ocean region,” defence analyst Mr. Rahul Bedi added.

WORLD ROUNDUP: US Defense Secretary Austin calls for peaceful dialogue with China