Forum for Indian and US industries on issues that impact industrial collaboration
The United States and India have signed an agreement for the first Project Agreement for Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle under the Joint Working Group Air Systems which is part of the 11th Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) Group. It was signed during a virtual meeting on 9 Nov 2021.
To further encourage US and Indian industries to develop niche technologies under the DTTI Group, the Defence Industry Collaboration Forum (DICF) Virtual Expo was conducted on 8 November 2021.
The DICF was convened by Joint Secretary (Defence Industries Promotion) Anurag Bajpai and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Industrial Policy Jesse Salazar.
This forum offers an opportunity for Indian and US industries to be directly involved in DTTI and facilitates dialogue between government and industry on issues that impact industrial collaboration. The results of the discussion were briefed to the DTTI Group co-chairs.
The aim of the DTTI Group is to bring sustained leadership focus to the bilateral defence trade relationship and create opportunities for co-production and co-development of defence equipment. Four Joint Working Groups on land, naval, air and aircraft carrier technologies have been established under DTTI to promote mutually agreed projects within their domains.
The groups reported to the co-chairs on ongoing activities and collaborative opportunities, including a number of near-term projects targeted for completion on priority, said the Defence Ministry.
As evidence of their commitment to demonstrating the success of DTTI, the co-chairs agreed on a revised Statement of Intent (SOI) that declares their intent “to strengthen our dialogue on defence technology cooperation by pursuing detailed planning and making measurable progress” on several specific DTTI projects.
The DTTI Group meetings are normally held twice a year, alternating between India and the US. However, this DTTI meeting was held via Video Teleconferencing consecutively for a second time on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 9 Nov meeting was co-chaired by Raj Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production) from the Defence Ministry, and Gregory Kausner, who is Performing the Duties of Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment in the US Department of Defence. #technology #manufacturing #investment /fiinews.com
