{"id":17185,"date":"2017-07-08T15:13:22","date_gmt":"2017-07-08T22:13:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/siliconeer.com\/current\/?p=17185"},"modified":"2017-07-08T15:13:22","modified_gmt":"2017-07-08T22:13:22","slug":"u-s-clears-sale-of-guardian-drones-to-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconeer.com\/current\/u-s-clears-sale-of-guardian-drones-to-india\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Clears Sale of Guardian Drones to India"},"content":{"rendered":"

A U.S. Air Force MQ-1B Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), carrying a Hellfire air-to-surface missile lands at a secret air base in the Persian Gulf region on Jan. 7, 2016. (John Moore\/Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n

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The U.S. has cleared the sale of predator Guardian drones to India to enhance its maritime surveillance capabilities, as President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to bolster defense and security cooperation between the two strategic partners, write Lalit K. Jha<\/b> and Yoshita Singh.<\/b><\/p>\n

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The U.S. and India look forward to working together on advanced defense equipment and technology at a level commensurate with that of America\u2019s closest allies and partners, said a joint statement issued after the Modi-Trump Summit at the White House.<\/p>\n

\u201cPresident Trump and Prime Minister Modi pledged to deepen defense and security cooperation, building on the United States\u2019 recognition of India as a Major Defense Partner.<\/p>\n

\u201cReflecting the partnership, the U.S. has offered for India\u2019s consideration the sale of Sea Guardian Unmanned Aerial Systems, which would enhance India\u2019s capabilities and promote shared security interests,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

Resolving to expand their maritime security cooperation, they announced their intention to build on the implementation of their \u201cWhite Shipping\u201d data sharing arrangement, which enhances collaboration on the maritime domain awareness.<\/p>\n

Trump welcomed Modi\u2019s strong support for the U.S. to join as an Observer in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.<\/p>\n

Noting the importance of the upcoming MALABAR naval exercise (involving the U.S., Japan and India), the leaders determined to expand their engagements on shared maritime objectives and to explore new exercises.<\/p>\n

Earlier in his remarks to the press, Modi said there is increasing possibilities for enhancing cooperation in order to protect \u201cour strategic interests (that) will continue to determine the dimensions of our partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith regard to security-related challenges, our enhanced and growing defense in security cooperation is extremely important. We have spoken at length on this subject as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe strengthening of India\u2019s defense capabilities with the help of USA is something that we truly appreciate. We have also decided to enhance maritime security cooperation between the two nations,\u201d the prime minister said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPresident Trump and I have also spoken about strengthening bilateral defense technology and our trade and manufacturing partnership, which we believe will be mutually beneficial to us. We also discussed international issues and our common strategic interests in this country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Trump said the security partnership between the U.S. and India is incredibly important.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur militaries are working every day to enhance cooperation between our military forces, and next month they will join together with the Japanese navy to take part in the largest maritime exercise ever conducted in the vast Indian Ocean, Trump said.<\/p>\n

Media reports in late June said that the U.S. has cleared the sale of 22 predator Guardian drones, a force multiplier that will boost the Indian Navy\u2019s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.<\/p>\n

The deal was estimated to be worth $2-3 billion, the reports said, adding that the decision was communicated to the Indian government and the manufacturer General Atomics by the U.S. State Department.<\/p>\n

\u201cReflecting the partnership, the United States has offered for India\u2019s consideration the sale of Sea Guardian Unmanned Aerial Systems, which would enhance India\u2019s capabilities and promote shared security interests,\u201d the joint statement said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn defense cooperation, there was a sense that combination of convergence and regular exchanges on policy, the fact that today we are major partners in exercises with each other, all these underline the fact that India and the U.S. recognize each other key defense partners,\u201d Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar told reporters at a news conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was really an occasion for us to send a message that India was a reliable dependable partner, that was fully reciprocated on the American side,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In a statement, the White House said completion of these sales would increase bilateral defense trade to nearly $19 billion, supporting thousands of U.S. jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf selected, United State offer to sell F-16 and F\/A-18 fighter aircraft to India would represent the most significant defense cooperation between the U.S. and India to date,\u201d the White House said.<\/p>\n

According to the White House, the United States remains a reliable provider of advanced defense articles in support of India\u2019s military modernization efforts.<\/p>\n

United States-sourced defense articles, including the Sea Guardian Unmanned Aerial System, Apache attack helicopters, and C-17 aircraft will further enhance the capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces and provide additional opportunities for interoperability.<\/p>\n

The U.S.-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) remains the premier forum for deepening collaboration on defense co-development and co-production, it said.<\/p>\n

The seven DTTI Joint Working Groups continue to discuss a range of technologies and platforms for potential co- development, including India\u2019s participation in the Future Vertical Lift program, it added.<\/p>\n

DTTI representatives met most recently in April.<\/p>\n

Key military and civilian defense leaders continue to meet via reciprocal counterpart visits and strategic and policy dialogs, promoting closer service ties and improving interoperability among our forces, the White House said.<\/p>\n

The annual MALABAR naval exercise, occurring in July in the Indian Ocean, will be the most complex to date, including participants from the U.S. Navy, Indian Navy, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.<\/p>\n

The United States and India also participate in the VAJRA PRAHAR Special Forces exercise, the RED FLAG air force exercise, and YUDH ABHYAS army exercise, it added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A U.S. Air Force MQ-1B Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), carrying a Hellfire air-to-surface missile lands at a secret air base in the Persian Gulf region on Jan. 7, 2016. (John Moore\/Getty Images) The U.S. has cleared the sale of predator Guardian drones to India to enhance its maritime surveillance capabilities, as President Donald Trump…<\/p>\n

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