India, US To Co-Produce Armoured Combat Vehicle in Major Defence Collaboration

New Delhi: In a significant move towards enhanced defence cooperation, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Friday that India and the US will engage in joint production of an infantry combat vehicle. The announcement came following the ‘2+2’ defence and foreign ministerial dialogue in Delhi, where discussions covered various topics, including addressing security challenges posed by China.

Highlighting the strategic importance of this collaboration, Secretary Austin disclosed that both nations are actively working on co-producing an armoured vehicle. He also emphasized the broader scope of the US-India relationship, which extends beyond challenges posed by China and is underpinned by shared values.

Responding to queries about India’s procurement of 31 MQ-9B drones from the US, Austin mentioned that details of the project would be revealed at an appropriate time. He assured that the government is expediting efforts to ensure India swiftly acquires this capability.

Austin also highlighted the expansion of defence activities between the two nations across multiple domains, ranging from space to undersea. The discussions during the meeting encompassed major developments in the Indo-Pacific region, the Middle East, and Ukraine.

In his concluding remarks, the US Defence Secretary expressed that the cooperation between the US and India is currently at its strongest, reflecting the commitment to bolstering defence ties between the two nations.