At a time when the India-US military relationship appears to have taken a hit because of American sanctions against Russia, senior defence officials from both sides met here on Wednesday to strengthen defence cooperation.
India and the US held the seventh meeting of the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) that seeks to overcome bureaucratic obstacles to cooperation and identify opportunities for sharing of defence technologies.
The DTTI meeting was co-chaired Ajay Kumar, secretary (defence production) and Ellen M Lord, US under secretary of defence for acquisition and sustainment.
“The meetings are held twice a year, alternately in India and the US, with the aim to bring sustained leadership focus to the bilateral defence trade relationship and create opportunities for co-production and co-development of defence equipment,” a defence ministry release said.
According to the release, Lord said the DTTI was an important forum leading to the 2+2 dialogue. The 2+2 talks between the defence and foreign ministers of India and the US are scheduled to take place in Delhi in early September.
The DTTI seeks to identify opportunities for co-development and co-production of military hardware, collaborate on science and technology projects and jointly explore policy changes needed to further the military relationship. The US Department of Defense established an exclusive India Rapid Reaction Cell in 2015 to support the DTTI. Several joint working groups have been formed under the DTTI including those on aircraft carrier technology cooperation.
{{/usCountry}}The DTTI seeks to identify opportunities for co-development and co-production of military hardware, collaborate on science and technology projects and jointly explore policy changes needed to further the military relationship. The US Department of Defense established an exclusive India Rapid Reaction Cell in 2015 to support the DTTI. Several joint working groups have been formed under the DTTI including those on aircraft carrier technology cooperation.
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