India, US To Sign Key Defence Deal During PM Modi's First State Visit: What Will It Include?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a historic visit to the United States on Tuesday with new defense deals on the table as the two nations boost military ties to counterbalance rival China.

PM Modi has visited the US several times since taking office in 2014, but the three-day trip from Wednesday marks the first official state visit by an Indian leader since former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 2009 trip during the Barack Obama administration.

Prime Minister's US visit has been hailed as a milestone in the bilateral relationship and a key symbol of the two nations growing closer together.

Jet deal

The US administration is set to sign off on a deal that would allow General Electric Co to produce jet engines that will power the military aircraft in India.

The deal, which will be signed between General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), will entail 80 percent transfer of jet engine technology by value.

If approved, the GE-414-IN6 engine will power India's indigenous Tejas Mk-2 fighter as well as the futuristic AMCA - or Advanced Medium Combat aircraft, a stealth fighter.

Also, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will have reliable and long-lasting jet engines that can be overhauled after several thousand hours.

Reportedly, the multi-billion dollar jet deal between India-US is in the final stages and the two countries are deliberating on payment mechanisms, procurement of machinery and tech transfer modalities.

MQ-9B Drones

India is expected to procure 30 MQ-9B Predator armed drones from the US under a government-to-government framework.

The nearly USD 3 billion deal is expected to be announced following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden in Washington.

In 2020, the Indian Navy had taken on lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones from General Atomics for a period of one year for surveillance in the Indian Ocean.

The Sea Guardian drones can carry out a variety of roles including maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and over-the-horizon targeting among others.

Other deals expected

PM Modi's visit to the US is expected to be a game changer as Washington has decided to help boost India's indigenous capabilities in the economic, technological, and military fields amid threats from neighbouring countries like Pakistan and China.

According to a Reuters report, the two countries are also likely to seal pacts on the coproduction of land mobility systems, and smart munitions, as well as fast-tracking cooperation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, semiconductors, space, supercomputers, quantum, and other technologies.