US May Help India Develop Launch System for Indigenous Aircraft Carrier

India and the US are likely to expedite discussion on joint production of electromagnetic system to smoothen takeoff and landing of fighter jets on board.

India is keen to jointly develop Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) with the US for the aircraft carrier that is under production in Kochi, officials were quoted as saying by The Economic Times.

Frank Kendall, the US undersecretary of defence for acquisition, technology and logistics, who arrives ahead of Obama, will discuss with his Indian counterparts the possibility of joint production of defence items including EMALS, officials said.

There is a possibility that EMALS might be one of the items where chances of joint production are high, officials added. India currently operates two aircraft carriers, one stationed along its eastern coast and the other along the western coast.

EMALS is a system under development by the US Navy using a linear motor drive instead of the conventional steam piston drive.

Kendall, who is visiting India after the Russian defence minister came calling, is expected to give momentum to the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI), which promotes collaboration in defence technology and enables co-production and co-development of critical defence system.

Besides EMALS, Kendall's discussions will focus on joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles and systems for the C-130 military transport aircraft built by Lockheed Martin Corp.

Some projects could be announced after the summit meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Obama, officials indicated.

India has received five C-130Js built by Lockheed Martin and also has placed orders for six planes, parts of which will be delivered by 2017 and the jet planes will be delivered by 2017.