India, US aim to collaborate, learn from each other’s experiences: Rajnath Singh

India and the United States are eager to collaborate and learn from each other’s experiences, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his visit to a prominent American naval surface warfare facility in Maryland on Saturday.

Singh, who is currently on a four-day official trip to the United States to enhance the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the two nations, shared on X, “Visited the Naval Surface Warfare Centre at Carderock and witnessed groundbreaking experiments at the facility”.

“India and the US look forward to work together and benefit from each other’s experiences,” he wrote after he visited the top American naval facility on Saturday.

Earlier in his visit, Singh met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, reported news agency PTI.

Lloyd Austin commended the growing momentum in US-India relations during his meeting with Singh. He emphasised the increased collaboration on various defense matters, including efforts to strengthen critical supply chains and improve interoperability between the two militaries.

“We share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and our defense cooperation continues to grow stronger and stronger,” Austin stated.

“We are expanding our defense industrial ties, working to co-produce more capabilities, and enhancing supply chain resilience,” he added.

Austin highlighted the increased operational cooperation across all domains, noting India’s participation in this summer’s Rim of the Pacific, a large-scale exercise led by the US Navy in Hawaii that brought together 29 partner nations. He also underscored the role of the Indian Navy as a significant security provider in the Indian Ocean.

“Indian sailors have assisted mariners in distress and defended global commerce. We are committed to deepening our naval cooperation, enhancing our joint work with unmanned technology, and strengthening undersea domain awareness,” Austin said.

Singh remarked that the expanding cooperation covers “all areas of human endeavor”.

The Defence Minister highlighted the strong people-to-people connections, shared democratic values, and the alignment of interests between the US and India on various issues.

The meeting between Austin and Singh followed the finalization of an agreement aimed at addressing unexpected supply chain challenges to meet national security needs.

Under the non-binding “security of supply” arrangement, the United States and India have agreed to prioritize support for goods and services that promote national defense.

“This security of supply arrangement represents a pivotal moment in the US-India major defense partner relationship and will be a key factor in strengthening the US-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative,” Vic Ramdass, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, stated.

“I look forward to [the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment] hosting the next US-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative meeting this fall to deepen cooperation between our respective defense industrial bases and pursue bilateral co-development, co-production, and co-sustainment initiatives,” Ramdass added.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to India of Anti-Submarine Warfare Sonobuoys and related equipment, estimated to cost USD 52.8 million.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this potential sale on Friday.

The Government of India has requested to purchase AN/SSQ-53G High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare (HAASW) sonobuoys, AN/SSQ-62F HAASW sonobuoys, AN/SSQ-36 sonobuoys, technical publications and data documentation, US government and contractor engineering and technical support, and other related logistics and program services, the agency stated.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-India strategic relationship. It will enhance the security of a major defense partner, which remains a vital force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions, the statement added.

The sale will bolster India’s ability to address current and future threats by enhancing its anti-submarine warfare capabilities, particularly in operations conducted from its MH-60R helicopters.

India is expected to have no difficulty integrating this equipment into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not disrupt the fundamental military balance in the region. The principal contractors will be Sparton Corporation, based in De Leon Springs, FL, or Undersea Sensor Systems Inc. (USSI), located in Columbia City, or a combination of both.

There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

The implementation of this proposed sale will not require additional US government or contractor representatives to be stationed in India, and there will be no adverse impact on US defense readiness, the statement concluded.