Team Blitz India
NAVIGATING the complex dynamics of the Indo-Pacific, India and the United States are key stakeholders in the region, bound by shared values and common interests, said Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, addressing the second edition of INDUS-X Summit in New Delhi.
The India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) was launched on June 21, 2023, during the State visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to US. INDUS-X has been at the forefront of expanding bilateral ties in defence innovation since its launch by India’s Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence.
INDUS-X will also create jobs for working families in both countries and promote global peace, security, and prosperity.
The second edition of the Summit was jointly organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Ministry of Defence, India, and US Department of Defence on February 20-21. It was jointly coordinated by US-India Business Council and Society of India Defence Manufacturers (SIDM).
It was designed to foster collective progress for defence industries across borders, particularly to align the technological capabilities for startups and MSMEs and to engage in discussions, bilateral dialogues on various pertinent objectives under the realms of INDUS-X and propose relevant outcomes and way ahead to take the initiative forward.
Highlighting robust defence partnership between the two countries, rooted in mutual respect and strategic convergence, Defence Secretary Aramane mentioned Initiatives on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), launched jointly by PM Modi and President Joe Biden in 2022.
He mentioned that the introduction of Joint IMPACT Challenges was a distinctive initiative aimed at collaboratively advancing defence and aerospace co-development and co-production initiatives.
On the bilateral partnership in the aerospace and defence sectors, he added, “Our bilateral relationship is flourishing, with India increasingly turning to the United States for cutting-edge equipment and technology. The United States, in turn, sees India as a key partner in its IndoPacific strategy, leveraging India’s growing defence capabilities.”
The Defence Secretary underscored the success stories of India’s defence production, ranging from shipbuilding, including aircraft carriers, to the development of advanced weaponry such as Tejas multi-role fighter aircraft, and attack and utility combat helicopters that has got the attention of international buyers across the globe.
