India, US Officials Discuss Defence Industrial Cooperation; Sign Statement Of Intent To Strengthen Technology Collaboration

India and the US are continuing the talks for strengthening collaboration for the production and development of defence equipment. On Tuesday both countries signed a Statement Of Intent (SOI) to strengthen the bilateral dialogue on defence technology co-operation.

PM Modi and US President Donald Trump

New Delhi: The Defence officials from India and United States held a virtual meeting at Washington to exchange notes on defence industrial cooperation, including collaboration for production and development of defence equipment. According to news agency ANI, the US Bureau of South & Central Asian Affairs said that defence partnership between the two nations is the cornerstone of the US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. On Tuesday, during the 10th Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) Group Meeting, India and the US also signed a Statement Of Intent (SOI) to strengthen the bilateral dialogue on defence technology co-operation and create opportunities for co-production and co-development of military equipment. A report by PTI says that the Statement of Intent was signed during a virtual conference by Raj Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, and Ellen Lord, US Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment. In an official release, the Pentagon has stated 'that as evidence of their commitment to demonstrating the success of DTTI, the co-chairs signed a statement of intent (SOI) that declared to strengthen our dialogue on defence technology cooperation by pursuing detailed planning and making measurable progress on several specific DTTI projects.' The report says that the aim of the DTTI Group is to bring sustained leadership focus to the bilateral defence trade relationship and create opportunities for co-production and co-development of defense equipment. "Further efforts to encourage the US and Indian industry to cooperatively develop next-generation technologies under the DTTI Group were highlighted by the 1st DTTI Industry Collaboration Forum (DICF), which took place virtually on September 10, the Pentagon said.