The United States and India are reinforcing their defense collaboration to address the evolving security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. General Kevin Schneider, Commander of the US Pacific Air Forces, highlighted the significance of this partnership, noting that both nations support a rules-based international order to ensure regional peace and stability.
Aero India 2025, held at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru, serves as a pivotal platform for showcasing advanced military technology and fostering international defense cooperation. The event features over 900 exhibitors, including more than 150 foreign companies, displaying advancements in unmanned aerial systems, fighter aircraft, advanced avionics, and defense electronics.
The United States is making a significant impact at the airshow by presenting a range of advanced aircraft, such as the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter and the B-1B Lancer bomber. These displays underscore the robust and growing defense and aerospace partnership between the US and India. US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Jorgan Andrews leads the American delegation, which includes representatives from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce. Andrews emphasized the importance of defense cooperation in strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations.
In a recent phone conversation, India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reviewed bilateral defense cooperation, focusing on multiple domains, including land, air, maritime, and space. They agreed to deepen collaboration in areas such as technology, integration of defense industrial supply chains, interoperability, logistics, information sharing, and joint military exercises. This discussion precedes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the United States, signaling a commitment to strengthening defense ties.
The US-India Defense Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, adopted in 2023, aims to expedite technology cooperation and co-production in critical areas, including air combat and land mobility systems, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, munitions, and the undersea domain. Progress under this roadmap includes ongoing collaboration to advance priority co-production arrangements for jet engines, munitions, and ground mobility systems.
In October 2024, India signed a $3.5 billion deal with the US to acquire 31 MQ-9B drones, enhancing its defense preparedness with a focus on countering regional threats. This agreement followed an extensive deliberative process in New Delhi and required congressional approval in the United States.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is also negotiating a deal with US firm GE Aerospace for the joint production of F414 engines in India. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding in Washington in June 2023 to produce 99 F414 engines for India’s future Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-2 program.
The strengthening of US-India defense ties reflects a shared commitment to addressing the complex security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. Through initiatives like Aero India 2025 and ongoing industrial collaborations, both nations aim to enhance their defense capabilities and promote regional stability.
