India, US to sign military cooperation agreement

News

• US Defence Secretary, Ashton Carter is making it a point to start with a visit to the Visakhapatnam based Eastern Naval Command that is tasked to maintain Indian presence in the South China sea region and the Strait of Malacca.
• India and US will not only sign a new defence cooperation agreement to take ahead from a 2005 pact but are also set to explore the possibilities of cooperating in the development of missile defence systems and take forward proposals for joint development of military equipment.
• The new 10-year defence framework agreement being signed during Carter’s visit will contain a specific reference to the Defense Technology & Trade Initiative (DTTI) that seeks to co-develop defence systems. Among the proposals expected fromWashington is the possibility for cooperation in the development of a new basic trainer for the Indian Air Force.
• A possibility being looked at is assisting HAL to develop a new aircraft on the lines of the Hawker Beechcraft T 6 Texan II trainer.
• The two sides will explore possible cooperation in the advanced field of missile defence systems.

Source ET