India-US to Launch Defence Initiative with 4 ‘Pathfinder Projects’

India and the US have decided to launch the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) with four ‘pathfinder projects’.

An announcement to this effect was made in New Delhi during the visit of US President Barack Obama, various Indian media reported.

The four products to be co-produced are the next-generation Raven unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ‘roll-on, roll-off’ intelligence-gathering and reconnaissance modules for C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, mobile electric hybrid power sources and uniform integrated protection ensemble increment-2 (chemical, biological warfare protection gear for soldiers).

As part of the Indo-US co-development, the range of the Raven made by Aerovironment will be extended to 18 km from the existing 10 km and endurance up from 4 hours to 6 hours.  Similarly, the 12 C-130Js acquired by India from the US for over $2 billion since 2007 will get surveillance modules as a co-developed project. 

Obama and Modi promised the DTTI would take the bilateral defence cooperation to a new level altogether with "additional joint projects in the near future".  Working groups will be set up to explore development of aircraft carrier technologies and jet engines.

The US already has a major stake in the engine project of the indigenous Tejas fighter   powered by American GE engines. With the aircraft accepted by the IAF, its production will be 20 a year over the next few years which mean huge orders for GE.

India may collaborate with the US in some of the systems and equipment required for the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, currently under construction and another follow-on carrier project.