India, US Sign Pact to Transfer Classified Tech

India and the United States have signed the Industrial Security Annex (ISA) during the second 2+2 dialogue between India's foreign and defense ministers and the US Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense in Washington.

This is considered an important agreement for any country seeking to receive high-end defense technology from the US. "We hope that this will enable the smooth transfer of classified technology and information between private entities in the USA and India," Indian defense minister Rajnath Singh emphasised.

"Today’s dialogue was built on steady progress over this past year. We secured new agreements on space exploration and defense industry collaboration," Mike Pompeo said after the meeting in Washington yesterday after the meeting.

Coming ahead of India opening a possible tender for the purchase of over 100 light fighter jets, the ISA agreement is expected to enhance the prospects of US manufacturers- Lockheed Martin and Boeing- which are in the race to build the F-16 and F/A-18 jets in India.

In addition, the launch of a new annual exercise called "Tiger Triumph" to reportedly enhance tri-service coordination and allow exchange of knowledge and expertise between the two countries was announced.

India has previously signed two agreements with the US: the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) and the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), in 2016 and 2018, respectively.