India and US Set to Formalise 10‑Year Defence Framework
India and the United States have agreed to formalise a 10-year bilateral defence framework later this year, marking a significant deepening of strategic and military cooperation. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth reached consensus over a telephonic discussion, paving the way for signature at their next in-person meeting.
Defence Cooperation Expansion
The proposed framework spans multiple domains:
- Armament and major defence sales: Accelerating pending deals, including GE F404 engines for Tejas fighter jets and a joint venture for F414 engines to be built in India.
- Industrial collaboration: Enabling co-production projects and integration of supply chains to strengthen India’s domestic defence manufacturing.
- Enhanced interoperability: Focus on joint training, exercises, logistics sharing, and compatibility of equipment to bolster operational synergy.
Strategic Alignment & Regional Security
Hegseth affirmed India as a top defence partner in South Asia, underscoring shared priorities in maintaining a “free and open Indo‑Pacific.” This forms part of an evolving strategic posture following the joint statement by Prime Minister Modi and President Trump in February 2025, which laid new benchmarks for defence cooperation.
Broader Military Integration
Under the agreement, India plans deeper integration of US-origin defence platforms—ranging from C‑130J, C‑17, P‑8I, CH‑47F, MH‑60R, AH‑64E attack helicopters, Harpoon missiles, M777 howitzers to MQ‑9 UAVs. The pact also aims to boost defence‑industrial co-development, technology transfer, and joint multilateral security efforts, including collaboration through the QUAD forum.
Minister’s Endorsement
Defence Minister Singh described the discussion as “excellent” and comprehensive, covering both ongoing and new initiatives. He expressed gratitude for US cooperation in counter‑terrorism and emphasised the importance of finalising the framework soon.
