U.S. in active talks with India to look at producing military systems: Pentagon official

U.S. & India in talks to produce military systems, establish defence procurement agreement. Pentagon committed to accelerating India's military modernisation. GE engine deal a testament to significance of relationship. Progress expected in months ahead. #IndoPacific #MilitaryModernisation #DefenceProcurement

The United States is in active talks with the Indian government to look at producing military systems in areas related to ISR and ground-based conventional warfare, a senior Pentagon official said.

Efforts are also on to establish a reciprocal defence procurement agreement with India, Siddharth Iyer, Director for South Asia Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defence said in Washington on Tuesday at an event organised by the prestigious Hudson Institute.

"We are in active talks with the Indian government to look at producing military systems in areas related to ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance], and then of course ground-based conventional warfare. And we'll have more to say on that as they become ripe," he said.

Indian-American Mr. Iyer said the talks between India and the U.S. to finalise the security of supply arrangement, which would streamline the ability of defence firms to procure their requirements, is making good progress.

"We are also moving at an aggressive clip to establish a reciprocal defence procurement agreement, which would allow and create the conditions for U.S. and Indian defence industries to increase and streamline market access," he said.

This relationship is one of the top priorities for the Pentagon, Mr. Iyer said.

"Our belief is that getting the U.S.-India relationship right is not just necessary, it's essential to achieving our strategy in the Indo-Pacific. There's a broad and deep commitment to making that happen," he said.