Syllabus: GS2(IR)/GS3/Defence
In News
- India has finalized a ₹7,995-crore follow-on support deal with the U.S. for its fleet of 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, ensuring five years of sustained maintenance and supply.
| MH-60R Seahawk helicopters – MH-60R, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, is an all-weather helicopter designed to support multiple missions with state of the art avionics and sensors. – The MH-60R Seahawk is a maritime variant of the Blackhawk helicopter. – India had signed an agreement with the U.S. for procurement of 24 MH-60Rs in February 2020. |
India–US Defence Partnership
- India-US defence cooperation is based on “New Framework for IndiaUS Defence Cooperation”, which was renewed for ten years in 2015.
- In 2016, the defence relationship was designated as a Major Defence Partnership (MDP).
- Defence cooperation is multifaceted and includes regular institutionalized bilateral dialogue, military exercises, and defence procurements
- The recent agreements underscoring a shared commitment to security, technology transfer, and regional stability.
Developments
- Important defence agreements which provide the framework for interaction and cooperation are:
- Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (2016); Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (2018); Industrial Security Agreement (2019); and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (2020) and Memorandum of Intent for Defense Innovation Cooperation (2018); Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA).
- Military-to-military ties are robust, with India conducting the largest number of exercises with the US—including Yudh Abhyas, Vajra Prahar, Malabar, Cope India, and Tiger Triumph—alongside participation in multilateral drills like RIMPAC and Red Flag.
- India also joined the Combined Maritime Force (CMF) in Bahrain in 2022. Overall, the partnership spans dialogue, procurement, technology, industry, and joint exercises, reflecting deepening strategic convergence in defence and security.
Issues & Challenges
- Concerns remain over the pace of actual transfer of high-end defence technology.
- Bureaucratic hurdles and differing procurement systems slow down implementation.
- Strained ties following U.S. tariffs on Indian goods in August 2025.
Conclusion and Way Forward
- India–US defence ties have grown into a strategic partnership focused on technology sharing, joint exercises, and Indo-Pacific security.
- To strengthen this, experts stress the need to streamline procurement, expand R&D in cyber, AI, and space, boost maritime cooperation, institutionalize high-level defence dialogue, and maintain geopolitical balance while preserving India’s strategic autonomy.
Source :TH
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