US-India Defence Expo: Officials Focused On Securing Supply Chain In Critical Sectors

Defence Industry Collaboration Forum Virtual Expo is aimed to deepen cooperation between two countries by identifying opportunities to jointly research, develop, and produce warfighting capabilities

US-India Defence Expo was held on Monday

New Delhi: With a view to secure supply chains in critical sectors like the semiconductor industry, senior officials of the US and India attended the Defence Industry Collaboration Forum (DICF)  Virtual Expo on Monday, according to Pentagon.

The expo was co-chaired by Jesse Salazar, deputy assistant secretary of defence (DASD) for industrial policy and Anurag Bajpai, joint secretary (Defence Industries), the Penatgon said.  The expo was held on Monday in partnership with the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), according to PTI.

In the opening remarks, Gregory Kausner, performing the duties of undersecretary of defence for acquisition and sustainment,  said DASD Salazar was joined in the discussion by Michael Vaccaro, acting executive director, International Cooperation, and senior executives of companies from the two countries.

What’s the focus of DICF?

The DICF, a major component of the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), is aimed to deepen industrial cooperation between two countries by identifying opportunities to jointly research, develop, and produce warfighting capabilities.  The latest DICF virtual expo focused on securing supply chains in critical sectors. 

"The November 8 DICF virtual expo focused on securing supply chains in critical sectors such as semiconductors and partnering for innovation in emerging domains such as artificial intelligence and space," department of defence spokesperson Jessica Maxwell stated during the meeting.

In October, armies of both countries conducted a 14-day joint training exercise at Elmendorf Richardson joint base in Alaska. The two countries have also signed key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies as well as provides for deeper cooperation.