Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to embark on a four-day visit to the United States beginning Friday, with the aim of strengthening the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the two nations.
During his stay in Washington, Singh is scheduled to hold discussions with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, among other key officials.
“The visit is expected to further deepen and broaden the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” the Defence Ministry announced, confirming Singh’s visit from August 23 to 26.
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Key agenda items
Three critical topics are expected to be high on the agenda during Singh’s talks with Austin:
1. India’s procurement of Predator drones: India plans to acquire 31 MQ-9B Predators, including 15 for the Indian Navy and eight each for the Indian Army and Air Force, at an estimated cost of $4 billion. According to a May report by Moneycontrol, the first deliveries are anticipated by the end of 2026. The Indian Navy, which already operates two Sea Guardians, has expressed satisfaction with their reconnaissance capabilities.
The MQ-9B, manufactured by General Atomics, boasts a range of approximately 1,800 km and is currently in use by the US Air Force and NATO allies.
2. Joint-manufacturing of Stryker ICVs: In July, a report by the Times of India suggested that India and the United States are in advanced talks to jointly manufacture the latest generation of Stryker armoured infantry combat vehicles (ICVs) as part of their defence-industrial cooperation roadmap.
Additionally, The Print reported last month that the Indian Army is considering the procurement of approximately 530 infantry combat vehicles (ICVs).
3. Co-production of GE F414 engines in India: Last June, GE Aerospace announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to co-produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force. The F414 engines are designated for use in the indigenous Tejas Mark-2 fighter jets.
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The GE-HAL deal, which requires approval from the US government and legislature, is anticipated to see full-scale production of F414 engines in India and the Tejas Mark 2 beginning early in the next decade.
In addition to these discussions, Singh will chair a high-level roundtable meeting with representatives from the US defence industry, focusing on ongoing and future defence collaborations.
With inputs from PTI