US-India Strategic Defence Co-operation

Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), which oversees the US Department of Defense, has ordered the Pentagon to submit a report by November 1 with a detailed assessment of the current state of US-India security cooperation; and a five-year plan for enhancing that cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and globally.

The SASC has also ordered “a detailed assessment of the desirability and feasibility of the future sale of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to India, and a potential US partnership with India to co-develop one or more military weapon systems, including but not limited to the anticipated program to replace the US Air Force T-38 trainer jet”.

“It is in the national interest of the United States… to support India’s rise and build a strategic and military culture of cooperation and interoperability between our two countries, in particular with regard to the Indo-Pacific Region.”--- opined certain Senators.

Senior US officials privately contrast the flowering of the broad US-India strategic relationship with deepening scepticism about the defence relationship.

Read the full Report: US-India Strategic Defence Co-operation

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DCNS and Flash Forge India Private Limited Partner for Scorpene Submarines

DCNS has signed an indigenisation contract with Visakhapatnam-based Flash Forge India Private Limited for the supply of critical parts for the Scorpene submarines being built at MDL. MDL is to build six Scorpene submarines under a Rs 20,000 Crore ($4.5 billion) contract and the first of these Project-75 vessels is expected to be commissioned in the Indian Navy in 2015. DCNS, a French Company, is partnering the project.

Flash Forge is a manufacturer of customised special material forgings used for severe service conditions in industries such as defence, aerospace, power, oil and gas, shipbuilding, petrochemicals and process plants.

The indigenous elements to be installed onboard the Scorpene submarines include systems and sub-systems such as engines, pumps, valves, accommodation elements and safety equipment, as also the combat and ship control systems that are part of the Mazagon Procured Materials element of the contract.

MDL is the main contractor It is to sub-contract work to the local players. Together, DCNS & MDL, are qualifying the suitable local companies to partner in the project.

Read Report: DCNS and Flash Forge India Private Limited Partner for Scorpene Submarines

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Defence Offsets and SMEs

The defence offset policy needs further revamping to allow small and medium industries (SMEs) to partake in defence offsets. Indian SMEs has a potential in areas like aero structures, landing gear, brakes and wheels, avionics, IT-based design and analysis solutions.

Defence public enterprises which get the offset benefits should outsource at least part of their orders to SMEs.

It is suggested that a permanent regulatory body of specialists should handle all offsets as a single window, preferably it to be a corporate body. It should be empowered to take decisions and guide local suppliers and MNC vendors within Govt. Guidelines.

Click to read an interrelated Article: Defence Offsets and SMEs

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