During his meeting with Austin, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to discuss a number of topics, including the purchase of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, the idea of manufacturing Stryker infantry combat vehicles jointly, and the co-production of GE F414 engines in India. Singh is scheduled to visit the United States for four days starting on Friday, with the goal of enhancing the two countries’ comprehensive global strategic partnership.
Singh is expected to meet with a number of important officials while in Washington, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
The Defense Ministry confirmed, “The visit is expected to further deepen and broaden the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.”
Three crucial subjects are anticipated to be high on Singh and Austin’s agenda:
1- India’s acquisition of Predator drones: At an estimated cost of $4 billion, India intends to purchase 31 MQ-9B Predators, of which 15 will be assigned to the Indian Navy and 8 to each of the Indian Army and Air Force. Moneycontrol reported in May that the first deliveries are expected by the end of 2026. The Indian Navy, which now has two Sea Guardians under its command, is pleased with their ability to conduct reconnaissance.
2- The MQ-9B, produced by General Atomics, has a range of around 1,800 kilometers, and the US Air Force and its allies in NATO are presently using it.2. Joint manufacturing of Stryker ICVs: As part of their strategy for defense-industrial cooperation, the Times of India reported in July that India and the US were in advanced discussions to manufacture the newest generation of Stryker armoured infantry combat vehicles (ICVs) together.
Furthermore, it was revealed by The Print in the previous month that the Indian Army is thinking of acquiring about 530 infantry combat vehicles (ICVs).
- Co-production of GE F414 engines in India: In June of last year, GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the co-production of fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force. The indigenous Tejas Mark-2 fighter planes are intended to be powered by the F414 engines.
With the GE-HAL arrangement, full-scale production of F414 engines in India and the Tejas Mark 2 expected to start early in the next decade, subject to approval by the US government and legislative.
Singh will also preside over a high-level roundtable discussion with members of the US defense sector, with an emphasis on current and upcoming defense cooperation, in addition to these talks.
(With inputs from Agency)