India, US look forward to working together and benefiting from each other: Rajnath Singh | India News

India and the United States look forward to cooperation and mutual learning, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said during a visit to the US’s premier surface warfare centre in Maryland.

Singh is in the US on a four-day official visit aimed at further strengthening the US-India comprehensive global strategic partnership.

“I visited the Naval Surface Warfare Centre at Carderock and witnessed the pioneering experiments being conducted at the facility,” Singh said in a post on X.

“India and the United States want to cooperate and benefit from each other’s experience,” he wrote after visiting the most important US naval base on Saturday.

Earlier during his visit, Singh met with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

During his meeting with Singh, Austin praised the dynamics of the US-India relationship.

He noted increased cooperation between the countries on a range of defence issues, including efforts to strengthen key supply chains and interoperability between their armies.

“We share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and our defense cooperation is growing stronger,” Austin said.

“We are expanding our defense industrial ties and working to collectively create greater capabilities and strengthen supply chain resilience,” he said.

He said the countries have strengthened operational cooperation in all areas and highlighted India’s participation in this year’s large-scale Rim of the Pacific exercise conducted by the US Navy in Hawaii in which 29 partner nations participated.

Austin said the Indian Navy continues to play an important security role in the Indian Ocean.

“Indian seafarers have been helping seafarers in distress and protecting global trade. That is why we are committed to deepening maritime cooperation, working together with unmanned technology and strengthening undersea domain awareness,” he said.

The meeting between Austin and Singh came a day after the countries finalized an agreement to ease unforeseen supply chain disruptions to meet national security needs.

Under a non-binding “security of supply” agreement, the United States and India have agreed to provide priority support for the country’s defense goods and services.

“This Security of Supply Agreement marks a pivotal moment in the relationship between the U.S. and India, a major defense partner, and will be a key enabler of the U.S.-India Defense Trade and Technology Initiative,” Vic Ramdass, principal secretary of defense for industrial base policy, said in a statement.

“I look forward to (the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment) hosting another (U.S.-India Defense Trade and Technology Initiative) meeting this fall to deepen cooperation between our respective defense industrial bases and continue bilateral co-development, co-production and co-sustainment initiatives,” Ramdass said.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken approved a possible Foreign Sale of anti-submarine sonic buoys and related equipment to India for an estimated $52.8 million.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency issued the required certification on Friday, notifying Congress of the possible sale.

The Government of India has requested the purchase of AN/SSQ-53G High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare (HAASW) sonar buoys; AN/SSQ-62F HAASW sonar buoys; AN/SSQ-36 sonar buoys; technical documentation, publications and data; engineering and technical support from the U.S. Government and contractors; and other related logistics, program services and support items.

The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the strategic relationship between the United States and India, the statement said.

This will help improve the security of a major defence partner that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions, it said.

The proposed sale will enhance India’s ability to meet current and future threats by enhancing its ability to conduct anti-submarine warfare operations using MH-60R helicopters, it added.

India will have no difficulty in incorporating this equipment into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not change the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor(s) will be either Sparton Corporation, De Leon Springs, Florida, or Undersea Sensor Systems Inc. (USSI), Columbia City, Florida, or both (the group(s) together).

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

The completion of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. government officials or contractors to India. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale, the statement said.