India, US Likely To Finalise Aircraft Technology Transfer Agreement

India and the US to finalize an agreement for the transfer of an aircraft technology during US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter visit to New Delhi on Tuesday.

Both the nations would also be reviewing the progress made on the projects agreed upon during President Barrack Obamas visit to India in January this year. The review also includes the proposed co-development and co-production of military technologies.

The  visit is expected to yield a military cooperation agreement for developing missile defense systems and to prevent weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation, various media reported today.

The 10-year defence framework agreement will be signed during the visit, which contains a specific reference to the Defense Technology & Trade Initiative (DTTI) that seeks to co-develop defence systems.

Apart from signing a new defence cooperation agreement to take ahead from a 2005 pact, both nations are also set to explore the possibilities of cooperating in the development of missile defence systems and take forward proposals for joint development of military equipment.

Among the proposals expected from Washington is the possibility for cooperation in the development of a new basic trainer for the Indian Air Force.

The Indian Defence Ministry has already tasked HAL to develop a new turboprop trainer aircraft to meet the requirement of close to 100 planes needed by the Indian air force, and the US is expected to offer assistance in the program.

There is a possibility of HAL being assisted to develop an aircraft on the lines of the Hawker Beechcraft T 6 Texan II trainer.