US recognises India as ‘major defence partner’, changes export control laws

WolfPack86

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Recognising India’s status as a ‘Major Defence Partner’, the US has made necessary changes in its export control laws that would benefit India by facilitating smoother transfer of technologies and arms to it. The new rule that makes necessary changes in the export control laws “creates a presumption of approval” for Indian companies seeking to import Commerce Department-controlled military items, except Weapons of Mass Destruction-related goods.

This means that only under the rarest circumstances will India be denied licenses, a source familiar with the changes said. “I’m pleased to see India’s status as a ‘Major Defence Partner’ – a designation that we have strongly supported – be translated into tangible regulatory reform,” said Mukesh Aghi, president of US India Business Council (USIBC). The new rule also amends the law so that companies will not need a license at all after becoming a Validated End User (VEU).
“Indian and US companies operating in India can seek VEU status for both civil and military manufacturing, and by doing so not need to obtain individual licenses. This makes it far more convenient to build a global supply chain and react quickly to changing market conditions,” explained Benjamin Schwartz, USIBC’s Director for Defence and Aerospace.

Over 810 licenses representing some USD 5 billion in trade in the last half decade have been granted for goods covered under this new rule. Most of these licenses being focused on aerospace systems and ground vehicles. Additionally, under the new regulation, Indian companies will not be required by US law to seek approval for the re-export of platforms that contain less than 25 per cent US content.

“This is a very favourable policy for Indian companies. The rule will make business substantially easier for Indian companies in the defence sector, especially those partnering with American companies. This gives Indian companies and US companies operating in India the ability to be reactive in real time to meet their supply chain needs,” Schwartz said.
http://indianexpress.com/article/bu...-partner-changes-export-control-laws-4511813/
 

The Ultranationalist

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China is common enemy of both the US and India, its time we joined joint patrols in SCS with the japanese and american navies.
 

WolfPack86

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When India gets NSG membership i am quite sure Govt won't buy F-16 but instead they will buy F-35C, E2 D Hawkeye, Sea hawk helicopter for INS Vishal it still 10 years away and then Naval multi role helicopter contest will go to MH 60 R helicopter.
 

WolfPack86

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EMALS on INS Vishal will influence purchase of F-35 and Hawkeye E-2D AEW : Source

Senior Naval Aviator based at INS Hansa has confirmed to idrw.org that General Atomics developed Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) system for takeoffs and landing has been selected to be used on alleged Nuclear powered Second indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vishal . General Atomics also has been asked to carry out necessary modifications so that the EMALS system is also certified to operate Russian-supplied Mig-29K and India’s LCA Navy MK2 Carrier-borne fighter jets from INS Vishal but Navy is looking out for a new platform to be used from the new Supercarrier and Lockheed Martin’s 5th Generation F-35 is under active consideration said the same source . Selection of American EMALS system will have an influence on next carrier-borne fighter jet confirmed Senior Naval Aviator to idrw.org and Representatives of Lockheed Martin had briefed Indian Navy in 2010 on both conventional takeoff and landing variant as well as on short-take-off-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) F-35 variant for carrier-borne operations. F-35B is equipped with a lift fan mounted behind the cockpit giving the jet short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities and can hover like a Harrier; and the F-35C, a beefed-up, navalised version for use on American aircraft carrier. F-35B due to its STOVL capabilities can operate from smaller aircraft carriers and can be also used on from INS Vikrant if needed but Navy will take appropriate call after 2020 on new fighter requirements , while it will continue to back development of LCA Navy MK2 for which Navy has requirement for 50 carrier-borne jets for operations from both INS Vishal and INS Vikrant. Indian Navy is also eyeing carrier-borne Hawkeye E-2D for Airborne Early Warning (AEW) and Battle Management aircraft. Hawkeye E-2D already has been cleared for export to India and a presentation was made to the Indian Navy in late 2010. Hawkeye E-2D is equipped with Northrop Grumman’s APY-9 combat radar, which has the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) capability,Other systems onboard include satellite connectivity, an advanced mission computer with backup, improved engines, a new glass cockpit and midair refuelling capability. Although its rotodome would use electronic radar scanning, it would be moveable for better surveillance and multi-target engagement.Hawkeye E-2D is believed to be capable of tracking more than 2000 targets up to 600 km.
http://idrw.org/emals-on-ins-vishal-will-influence-purchase-of-f-35-and-hawkeye-e-2d-aew-source/
 

vinuzap

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its really nice work

indians are getting technology from u.s , israel , france and japan allready for upgrdation along with russian technology in parallel and this surely is reducing process time

with trump IT may suffer but defence and manufacturing will reach new height
 

WolfPack86

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US defence secretary James Mattis calls Manohar Parrikar
WASHINGTON: India and US have agreed to "sustain the momentum on key bilateral defence efforts" after defence secretary James Mattis called his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar and expressed commitment to build upon the tremendous progress made in bilateral defence cooperation.

This was the first conversation between the two leaders after Mattis was sworn in as the Defense Secretary of the US President Donald Trumplast month.
"In their first conversation, Secretary Mattis committed to build upon the tremendous progress in bilateral defense cooperation made in recent years, underscoring the strategic importance of the US-India relationship and India's role in advancing global peace and security," the Pentagon press secretary Capt Jeff Davis said on Wednesday.

"Secretary Mattis and Minister Parrikar affirmed their commitment to sustain the momentum on key bilateral defense efforts to include the defense technology and trade initiative," Davis said after the phone call between the two leaders which took place on Wednesday.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-defence-cooperation/articleshow/57051657.cms
 

WolfPack86

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Trump Team Calms Arms Jitters
New Delhi, Feb. 9: The Donald Trump administration in the US has assured India it is committed to a defense technology transfer initiative that became a cornerstone of strategic ties under former President Barack Obama but was under doubt because of the new President's protectionist rhetoric.
The assurance from Trump's defense secretary James Mattis to Indian defense minister Manohar Parrikar during a phone call today has helped ease New Delhi's jitters over the future of the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), senior officials have said.
But it remains unclear whether the Trump administration will continue to encourage American defense majors to invest in setting up manufacturing facilities in India, a position that would contrast starkly with his pledge to bring jobs back home, the officials said.
Defense firm Lockheed Martin today said it was expecting the Trump administration to take a "fresh look" at its plans to set up a production unit for the manufacture of F-16 fighter jets in India. The unit was approved by the Obama administration and has been welcomed by India.
The DTTI was set up in 2012 but effectively took off after Ashton Carter took over as Obama's defense secretary in February 2015. The initiative is aimed at co-development and co-design of defense equipment, weapons platforms and other military technology and was an outcome of Indian pressure to expand the bilateral defense partnership beyond one where India only buys and the US merely sells.
But though India and the US have begun work on cutting-edge military technology projects together under the initiative, New Delhi was unsure till today whether Trump would want to continue with the DTTI, which involves sharing of high-tech intellectual property.
"Secretary Mattis and Minister Parrikar affirmed their commitment to sustain the momentum on key bilateral defense efforts to include the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative," US department of defense spokesperson Jeff Davis said in a statement on the phone call. "Secretary Mattis committed to build upon the tremendous progress in bilateral defense cooperation made in recent years, underscoring the strategic importance of the US-India relationship and India's role in advancing global peace and security."
Mattis, since being sworn in, has travelled to Japan and South Korea, reassuring the US allies that the Trump administration will continue to defend them, if necessary, from the threats posed by North Korea and China. He has also spoken with his counterparts from Australia and the Philippines, also American allies, tamping down fears that have arisen from Trump's insistence during his election campaign that the US should rethink its role as a security guarantor to allies.
For India, which over the past decade has significantly aligned its Asia Pacific strategy with that of the US, concerns over the future of a series of technology transfer efforts lingered.
The earliest reassurance of continuity came in the form of the National Defense Authorisation Act, 2017, which was passed by US Congress in December and which institutionalised support for the DTTI.
But that law was passed by the Obama administration and India did not know whether Trump would continue to back the initiative politically.
Some of those concerns were assuaged earlier this week when the US commerce department tweaked its export control laws to acknowledge a "presumption of acceptance" of sale of military equipment to India. These changes are a consequence of the Obama administration's decision to declare India a "major defense partner" - an unprecedented tag for a country that is not a treaty ally - aimed at facilitating the sale of military technology to India.
Yet, it is the DTTI that is the principal vehicle the two governments have so far used to cut through layers of bureaucracy on both sides and enable the joint development of military technology, including for sale to a third country.
The US and India have set up two joint working groups - one for development of new aircraft carriers, and the other to design new jet engines. Under the DTTI, the two countries also expected to soon begin research on developing mobile electric hybrid power sources, protection for individual soldiers from chemical and biological weapons, a detection system for biological threats and a digital mounted helmet display. Two DTTI projects - roll-on, roll-off kits and a micro drone - are likely to be dumped, officials indicated.
Deep concerns are however still wracking India's strategic establishment because of Trump's indications that he will punish American companies that set up manufacturing plants abroad.
American defense companies - like Lockheed Martin - were among the first to embrace Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India initiative.
"The Make in India initiative remains robust and a competitive proposition for all foreign partners," foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said today in response to concerns over the rethink hinted at by Lockheed Martin.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2017/02/trump-team-calms-arms-jitters.html
 

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