India–U.S. 10-Year Defence Partnership Framework

India and the United States signed a landmark 10-year “Framework for the U.S.–India Major Defence Partnership” during the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Table of Contents

Context

Key Highlights of the Framework

Policy Direction: Establishes an overarching vision for India–U.S. defence engagement through 2035.
Defence Interoperability: Focus on joint operations, logistics support, and repair/maintenance cooperation.
Technology Collaboration: Promotes co-development and co-production of advanced military systems, including fighter jet engines and UAVs.
Information Sharing: Expands intelligence and data-sharing mechanisms for maritime domain awareness and counterterrorism.
Industrial Partnership: Encourages private sector linkages under Make in India and U.S. Defense Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI).
Regional Security: Strengthens coordination within the Quad and partnerships with ASEAN, Japan, and Australia.
Joint Exercises: Expands joint military drills such as Yudh Abhyas, Vajra Prahar, Malabar, and Cope India.

Strategic Significance of the pact

Reinforces Indo-Pacific Stability: Strengthens deterrence architecture against coercive powers (implicitly China).
Deepens Defence Industrial Cooperation: Boosts Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.
Enhances Strategic Autonomy: Balances India’s multi-alignment approach with tangible defence partnerships.
Trust-Based Framework: Institutionalizes defence ties, insulating them from transient political or economic frictions.
Regional Influence: Positions India–U.S. partnership as a security provider duo in the Indo-Pacific region.

Evolution of India–U.S. Defence Ties

Phase	Key Agreements / Developments	Significance
2013	Joint Declaration on Defence Cooperation	Set broad contours for defence partnership.
2015	Framework for the U.S.–India Defence Relationship	Deepened strategic cooperation and interoperability.
2016–2020	Signing of foundational agreements – LEMOA (2016), COMCASA (2018), BECA (2020)	Enabled logistics sharing, secure communications, and geospatial cooperation.
2024	Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) and MoA on Liaison Officers	Enhanced defence industrial base collaboration.
2025	10-Year Major Defence Partnership Framework	Expands defence cooperation to cover the full spectrum of security and technology.

Ongoing and Future Defence Cooperation

Defence Trade and Procurement: India’s inventory includes major U.S.-origin systems:
- C-130J Super Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, P-8I Poseidon, Apache and Chinook helicopters, M777 Howitzers, and Harpoon missiles.
Future procurements:
- 31 MQ-9B SeaGuardian/Predator UAVs (HALE drones).
- GE F-414 jet engines for LCA Tejas Mk-2 (to be co-produced in India).
- GE-F404 engines for Tejas Mk-1A deliveries underway.
Joint Military Engagements: Exercise Yudh Abhyas. 2+2 Dialogue ,Quad Defence Dialogue.
Industrial and Technological Synergy:
- Collaboration between HAL and GE Aerospace for engine production.
- Expansion of joint research in areas such as AI, cyber, space defence, and semiconductor security.

Challenges and Underlying Frictions

Trade Disputes: Ongoing tariff imbalances and sanctions risk affecting defence procurement timelines.
Technology Transfer Hesitations: U.S. export controls and ITAR restrictions slow co-production efforts.
Geopolitical Balancing: India’s defence ties with Russia and non-alignment posture may create tensions.
Operational Interoperability: Standardization across communication and logistics systems remains incomplete.
Political Changes: Future administrations in either country could recalibrate strategic priorities.

Way Forward

Institutionalize Annual Reviews: Regular high-level dialogue under the new framework for course correction.
Boost Industrial Collaboration: Implement Indo-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) for startups and MSMEs.
Expand Tech Partnership: Focus on AI-enabled defence systems, space situational awareness, and cybersecurity cooperation.
Enhance Interoperability: Broaden joint logistics and maritime domain awareness initiatives.
Depoliticize Security Cooperation: Keep defence engagement immune from short-term trade or political disagreements.
Quad Synergy: Use the India–U.S. partnership as the backbone of collective Indo-Pacific security efforts.