US removes ISRO, DRDO from export control list

[LETHALFORCE]

http://news.oneindia.in/2011/01/14/uslikely-to-lift-ban-on-isro-drdosoon-aid0126.html


Washington, Jan 14 (PTI) The US, which imposed curbson trade with defence entities like ISRO and DRDO followingIndia''s nuclear tests in 1998, has set in motion regulatorychanges to lift the ban soon, thus fulfilling a commitmentmade by President Barack Obama.


A formal notification to lift the ban by the USDepartment of Commerce for this purpose is in advanced stage,top US officials said.

"These regulatory changes will begin thetransformation of the bilateral export control policies torealise the full potential of the strategic partnershipbetween our two countries," Eric Hirschhorn, Under Secretaryfor Industry and Security, US Department of Commerce, toldPTI.

But he did not give any time line for the removal ofrestrictions, which is eagerly awaited in India.

However, official sources said a formal notificationin this regard could well be issued before the scheduled Indiavisit of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke from February 6-11.

US imposed curbs on trade with these defence entitiesin the wake nuclear tests carried out by India in 1998.

"The Department of Commerce is working quickly topublish a regulation that will remove Indian space anddefence-related entities from the Entity List and enact otherIndia-specific export control changes," a senior US officialsaid.

They clarified these notifications would be Indiaspecific.

"We have a separate track on these issues inpartnership with India," another Administration official said.

"As you''ll recall, in New Delhi, the Presidenttogether with the Prime Minister announced a resolution ofunilateral export control issues and the President announcedhis support for India in multilateral fora. That has notchanged and we continue to move forward on those steps," theofficial said.

Obama, during his India visit, had assured India thathe would remove these companies from the entities list.

"Commensurate with India''s nonproliferation record andcommitment to abide by multilateral export control standards,the US will remove all civil space and defence-relatedentities from the Department of Commerce "Entity List."

"Inclusion on this list generally triggers an exportlicense requirement when exported," said a fact sheet issuedby the White House during the Obama visit.

 

[prahladh]

Different channels reporting it differently. some say lifted, some say likely. Whatever the case good days are near.

 

[SHASH2K2]

US removes ISRO, DRDO from export control list​

WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday removed several Indian government defense-related companies, including subsidiaries of DRDO (Defense Research and Development ORganisation) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization), from the so-called Entity List, in an effort to drive hi-tech trade and forge closer strategic ties with India.

The move, which was described as the "first steps" to implement the export control policy initiatives announced by President Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on November 8, 2010, precedes a visit to New Delhi on February 6 of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who is leading 24 U.S. businesses on a high-tech trade mission to India.

But the relaxation of export controls is aimed at more than just ginning up hi-tech trade and U.S exports, U.S officials said. An administration official who briefed correspondents on background left little doubt that the relaxation had larger strategic implications, pointing out that the re-ordering of rules to exempt India spanned three U.S administrations and Presidents and two Indian governments and Prime Ministers, and was result of greater engagement and growing trust between the two countries.

Locke himself said in a statement that "Today's action marks a significant milestone in reinforcing the U.S.-India strategic partnership and moving forward with export control reforms that will facilitate high technology trade and cooperation."

Following up on exemptions long sought by India, in a process that involved tortured negotiations, the U.S Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security on Monday published a Federal Register Notice which updates the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) relating to India in several ways.

Among them

"¢ Removing several Indian space- and defense-related companies, including four subsidiaries each of DRDO and ISRO, and Bharat Dynamics, from the Entity List. Removal from the Entity List eliminates a license requirement specific to the companies, and results in the removed companies being treated the same way as any other destination in India for export licensing purposes.

"¢ Removing India from several country groups in the EAR resulting in the removal of export license requirements that were tied to India's placement in those country groups. Countries that figure in EAR include China, Pakistan, Russia, and in some instances, even Israel.

"¢ Adding India to a country group in the EAR that consists of members of the Missile Technology Control Regime, to recognize and communicate India 's adherence to the regime, the U.S.-India strategic partnership, and India 's global non-proliferation standing.


While the changes move India into different league altogether, Washington also has several requirements from New Delhi to ensure it stays in line with its non-proliferation goals. "These changes reaffirm the U.S. commitment to work with India on our mutual goal of strengthening the global nonproliferation framework," Under Secretary of Commerce Eric Hirschhorn, said in a statement on the occasion of the changes.

Read more: US removes ISRO, DRDO from export control list - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ol-list/articleshow/7357500.cms#ixzz1C0AQ9Z8L

 

[LETHALFORCE]

This is good news but we should continue our own indigenous efforts ;and not become overly dependent on foreign tech.

 

[pmaitra]

Ok this might sound crazy, but what if India conducts another series of Nuclear Tests? We will know how much of a cash crunch the USA is in at the moment.

 

[Parthy]

That's a good news but we should calibrate enough to pull critical technologies needed for our defense research.. Hope DRDO doesn't show their POPULAR time management with this at least!!

 

[sesha_maruthi27]

This is a new way to get the INDIAN money invested into american economy. We should not fall in this trap. Instead we should invest in RUSSIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRY and jointly we should develop new and futuristic technology. RUSSIANS have been our most reliable partners always.

 

[Tshering22]

This is a new way to get the INDIAN money invested into american economy. We should not fall in this trap. Instead we should invest in RUSSIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRY and jointly we should develop new and futuristic technology. RUSSIANS have been our most reliable partners always.

I think this is OUR money we are talking about. The DRDO ban lift is being done to allow export of critical technological components into ISRO's and Antrix's products Just like how China buys components from Russia. We should primarily use our money for our economy, our R&D and our growth rather than giving it away like Congress does. Their economies are down, its not our fault. Every country faces ups and downs; we were down for the last 50 years. So now we focus on getting our stuff ready and advanced so that we don't have to rely on anyone.

To those who believe US won't do it with us what it did with so many countries, they are living in a fool's paradise. Their thinking is not emotional and any concessions they make has a strategic angle apart from monetary. Hence I hope our incompetent government has some conscience left to maintain the balance between imports and manufacturing indigenously. Last time because of their sanctions, Tejas had almost been scrapped (to the delight of Scam party perhaps) but thanks to our scientists who decided not to give up.

Balance has to be maintained in importing and indigenous production and induction of anything.

 

[ajay_ijn]

gr8 news, US doesn't consider India has one of dangerous countries anymore. They don't think DRDO/ISRO scientists are having evil plans to annihilate US with Surya ICBMs or GSLV Rockets; they are convinced that we are no more the AQ Khan types to steal technology from western powers. Hindi-Amriki Bhai Bhai:india1::balle:

 

[warriorextreme]

gr8 news, US doesn't consider India has one of dangerous countries anymore. They don't think DRDO/ISRO scientists are having evil plans to annihilate US with Surya ICBMs or GSLV Rockets; they are convinced that we are no more the AQ Khan types to steal technology from western powers. Hindi-Amriki Bhai Bhai:india1::balle:

they just want to get our dollars in their kitty

 

[Parthy]

Hindi-Amriki Bhai Bhai:india1::balle:

Please don't say that.. Hinid-Chini Bhai Bhai --> Sino-Indian war...

Hindi-Amriki Bhai Bhai --> ???

 

[nrj]

x-posting...

Gain depends on US licence policy, says Saraswat

BANGALORE (PTI): The US action in removing space and defence-related Indian entities from the export control list is "good", but much would depend on its licensing policy as many items required by these organisations were for dual-use, a top defence official has said.

"...even though we have been removed from the entity list it only has taken (us) from the denied list to the enabled list... but it does not take away from the government rule or government law as far as dual use is concerned," Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, Dr V K Saraswat said Friday.

The impact of the removal would be clear when those laws would be stipulated, he said, adding, "We cannot say whether it will help us or it will maintain the same situation."

The US has removed nine Indian space and defence related companies including those from ISRO and DRDO from its export control 'Entity List' in an attempt to expand high technology trade and strategic cooperation with India.

Saraswat said the purpose of the control regime was basically to deny the technology to the country's programmes and projects which were on the anvil at that point of time.

"But as a country we gained, because we accelerated our programme of developing those items and products that had been denied to us," he said.

On the impact of the removal of these organisations from the entity list, he said the entities like ISRO and DRDO required dual use items – from military to peaceful use to non-conventional use.

"So much depends on how the dual use technology licensing will be done by the US for which the US law today is very clear that anything that is of dual use has to get licence," he said.

It was the market forces in the US and Europe that had driven the removal of the control regime as otherwise countries not observing these regimes would benefit and the US economy would not, he said.

"Hence the removal is driven by economy, by market force.

No ethics is involved," he said.

On role of private industry in the defence sector, Saraswat said participation of private industry, small scale industries and large firms "is very large".

"DRDO, ISRO and Atomic Energy have been responsible in the steep rise in capabilities of the private industry," he said.

More than 1,500 industries are participating in the development. Many started as component manufacturers and then graduated to sub-system manufacturer.

"But what we are looking forward to now is they should graduate to lead integrators so that we have a large number of private industries available for taking on a multiple of projects which are on anvil and reduce load on public sector in a large way," he said.

"If we want a large number of Akash (missiles) to be produced, it is essential we have a production line of Akash residing in one of the lead integrators agencies which can do this.

"Expectation of DRDO is very high from the private industry and we would encourage as much as we can by way of technology transfer, by way of mutual transfer of scientists and supporting infrastructure development in these private industry for turning them into lead integrators as well as designers," he said.

To a question on exports of Akash and Nag missiles, Saraswat said, "We are at the moment taking care of our own needs. Akash has just entered into production. We have a major requirement to be met to meet our own Army and Air Force's requirement. So, our first priority is to meet that.

"We will look at exports at a later stage, but yes, there are requests coming in and as a government we are taking a very calibrated view on the fact of internal production and for external usage."

On Agni missiles, he said, "Agni series of missiles are under development and many versions are already inducted in the armed forces, particularly the strategic forces. So we have a strong programme wherein many versions of Agni will be tested but among the new, this year, you will witness the launch of Agni V, which is the first launch of the particular missile.

"You will also witness many tests on the already inducted missile systems as part of the training programme for the strategic forces.

"So you will see many missiles taking off from February- March till December. Among them are ballistic missile interceptors, Agni interceptors that will be undergoing a series of tests," he said.

Brahmand

 

[SHASH2K2]

DRDO, US working on 30 high-tech projects


Some of the action from Day 3 of Aero India 2011 at Bangalore
by Ajai ShuklaBusiness StandardBangalore, 12th Feb 11
The chief of India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) today made the startling revelation that his organisation is in partnership with US entities in developing at least 30 high-technology defence projects.
Addressing a press conference at the Aero India 2011 air show in Bangalore today, DRDO Chief V K Saraswat broadly described the areas of the joint DRDO-US research. He said they were jointly developing "about 30 programmes related to materials, services, and manufacturing technologies. There are some related to advanced communications systems. There are many (projects) that are related to low-intensity conflict."This indicates Washington's rapid relaxation of the stringent technology denial controls that the US Congress had placed on DRDO after India tested five nuclear weapons in May 2008. Until January 25, several DRDO laboratories had featured on Washington's "Entity List", a list of agencies and institutions that are banned from receiving dual-use items from the US. A dual use item is one that has military, as well as civil, uses.
Controversially, Saraswat also revealed DRDO was permitting American inspectors to examine equipment that was being imported from the US for use in DRDO projects. "We already have some agreements with them"¦ what is called post-delivery inspection. Suppose they give some equipment, they can verify"¦ they are at liberty to come and check whether we have used this equipment in the place that I have indicated in my order. It is something like the End User Monitoring Agreement."
DRDO has worked for years with Russian and Israeli defence companies in developing weaponry, but featuring on the "Entity List" had ruled out cooperation with the US. The US departments of state and commerce, which must grant licences for defence-related export and cooperation, automatically block licenses to any agency on the "Entity List". Key DRDO platforms, including the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft; the Akash missile; and the Arjun tank, suffered years of delay after the technology denial regime imposed by the US in 1998.
Saraswat said DRDO had long hankered for partnership with US companies. "A lot of technology areas were identified for working with the US, but because we were on the Entity List"¦ clearances were not coming. I presume that there will be acceleration in our research & development programmes with the US."
Despite the DRDO-US projects under way, Saraswat pointed out that DRDO's removal from the "Entity List" did not mean that automatic clearance was granted for whatever DRDO needed. US law mandates that all dual-use items, which essentially includes everything related to defence, needs export licences from the US departments of commerce, state and defence.
"That licensing process is the law (in the US) and it will not change. So we have to see in the years to come"¦ what kind of trust is going to develop between [the DRDO] and the US on the issue of licences for dual use items for the DRDO and other defence agencies. That process will become lenient only if there is a level of trust," Saraswat said.
Meanwhile, Washington has stressed on high-tech cooperation that was one of the highlights of President Barack Obama's visit to India last November. US Commerce Secretary, Gary Locke, with his delegation of 24 US companies — among them a dozen aerospace and defence companies, including Lockheed Martin, Oshkosh Corporation, Boeing and Aero Controls — has dangled high technology as a carrot to induce New Delhi to provide trade incentives to US companies. Saraswat's revelations could ease scepticism among Indian defence policymakers about whether Washington intends to part with high technology to India, or to merely cite the sale of high-tech defence platforms like the C-130J as evidence of its commitment.
Speaking to Business Standard, US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro insisted that Washington viewed India as a strategic partner. "The removal of nine Indian entities from the Entities List was a significant accomplishment," declared Shapiro. "We've just had a successful delivery of the C-130J"¦ and we hope to win the MMRCA competition

 

[LETHALFORCE]

We are collaborating with USA and Russia in space great move by DRDO and the Govt to be able to work with both leading space agencies.