Current Status: India-US Defence Technology and Trade Initiative

India-US Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) is one of the central pillar of cooperation between the two countries. However, since it was created in 2012, has done little progress.

Background

India and US have been formally cooperating in defence since 1995 under the Defense Framework Agreement (2005). This agreement was renewed in 2015 for another 10 years. Under this agreement, US provides India the high end defence technologies {which are otherwise kept in tight control}. There are only eight countries with which US has this kind of relation. DTTI is the most important element under the Defense Framework Agreement, which was called “Carter Initiative” in the beginning as it was brainchild of then US Deputy Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter. Under this, Indian companies can partner with US companies for Defense Co-production, where the US provides technology and guidance for building modern weapon systems.

Current Status

At present, both the countries are working on six projects under the DTTI mechanism. The first four projects were announced during Obama’s visit to India as Republic Day’s chief guest. Two more proposals under the mechanism are under consideration. Out of the original projects 50% of the projects have reached the project agreement stage. DRDO and US labs are designated as the lead agencies for these projects. Two agencies coordinate and discuss the progress of these projects on a monthly basis. The current status of these six projects are as follows:

Projects at agreement stage

• Next General Individual Protection Ensemble
• Mobile Electric Hybrid Power Source

No progress

• Roll-on-Roll-off kit
• Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

At discussion stage

• Digital Helmet Mounted Display
• Joint Biological Tactical Detection System

Two projects under consideration:

• Advanced Tactical Ground Combat Vehicle (ATGCV): It is an American proposal and includes Israel. This trilateral cooperation on the futuristic military platform is under active consideration of the Defence Ministry. The Ministry is expected to convey its decision in the next DTTI meeting. The ATGCV project will go beyond our indigenous Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV), which is under development. If the project is successful then, it could be used by the armies of all the three countries.
• Future Vertical Lift Helicopter (FLHV): Announcement for this project is expected to be made at the next DTTI meeting.

Fighters

Apart from the above, the US’s proposal to work on a deal for an American combat fighter aircraft (F-16 or F-18) has been rejected by the Defence Ministry by stating that it wants a single engine foreign fighter, either the American F-16 or the Swedish Gripen under Make in India to supplement the 36 Rafale fighters.

Future of DTTI

The US government has passed the National Defence Authorization Act of 2017 (NDAA 2017), in which Section 1292 on ‘Enhancing Defence and Security Cooperation with India’ has institutionalised the DTTI mechanism with India. However, with the Donald Trump’s victory, India is sceptic over the priority the Trump administration would accord to the DTTI mechanism which is seen as Ash Carter’s personal project.