Lok Sabha Question No. 553 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Defence Co-operation between India and USA
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Andimuthu Raja, Vishnu Dayal Ram, Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 553

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## DEFENCE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN INDIA AND USA

553. SHRI A. RAJA: SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM: SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India and USA have signed defence cooperation in the matter of latest technology and defence equipments, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  India  and  USA  have  also  signed  Basic  Exchange  and  Cooperation  Agreement  to boost bilateral defence ties and if so, the areas where the agreement has focused;
- (c) the details of high-end military technology and logistics shared between the two countries in the last one year and till date;
- (d)  whether  the  Industrial  Security  Annex  signed  between  India  and  USA  is  successful  in maintaining good relations between the countries and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  details  of  the  Indo-US  Industrial  Security  Joint  Working  Group  to  be  set  up  under  the Industrial Security Annex?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)

- (a): India  and  United  States  have  a  robust  defence  cooperation  which  is  wide  ranging  and institutionalized through a framework of dialogues, Joint activities and exercises etc.

There is no general bilateral agreement on latest technology and defence equipment.  However, in 2017 India was notified as Major Defence Partner under the National Defence Authorisation Act  of  USA.    In  2018,  India  was  accorded  the  Strategic  Trade  Authorisation  (STA)  Tier  -  I status.  India and US are also cooperating under the framework of DTTI (Defence Technology and Trade Initiative) for facilitating joint development of mutually agreed technology.

Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) with USA was established to resolve issue in cooperation and alignment of systems; to ensure increasing flow of technology and investment; developing capabilities and partnership in co-development and co-production; and intensifying cooperation in research and development.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)  under Ministry of Defence cooperates  on  Research  and  Development  (R&D)  projects  with  organizations  under  United States' Department of Defence under the guidance of a US-India Joint Technical Group since 1995.

(b): Yes , Sir.  It will facilitate sharing of Geo-spatial information and products.

(c): Mutual  sharing  of  logistics  such  as  fuel,  lubricants  etc.  has  been  conducted  under  the provisions  of  LEMOA  (Logistics  Exchange  Memorandum  of  Agreement),  as  per  operational requirements.

(d): Yes, Sir.  India and USA signed an Industrial Security Annexe on 18 December, 2019 for exchange of Classified Information between Indian and US defence industries.

US industry is associated with 'Make in India' program and may require transferring classified information  for  Co-development  and  Co-production  of  defence  equipment  in  India.    US companies are prohibited by US law from sharing the classified data in the absence of Industrial Security  Annexe  (ISA).    ISA  enables  sharing  of  classified  information  between  the  defence industries of both the countries and protect such classified information through the implementation of equivalent policies and procedures.

(e): India  and  USA  agreed in-principle to establish  the  Indo  -  US  Industrial  Security  Joint Working Group.  This group will align the policies and procedures expeditiously as per ISA to exchange the classified information by the defence industries for collaboration on cutting edge defence technologies.

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