Nation

IIE DIGITAL DESK : India and the United States are on the brink of formalizing a comprehensive 10-year defence framework, reinforcing their evolving major defence partnership. The framework was confirmed through talks between U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, aiming to further strengthen strategic, industrial, and military cooperation between the two nations .

The groundwork was laid during a telephone call on July 1, where Secretary Hegseth emphasized the U.S.'s view of India as its key defence partner in South Asia, framed within a broader agenda of securing a free and open Indo‑Pacific.The leaders highlighted the progress achieved since the February 2025 joint statement between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, notably in arms procurement and operational interoperability .

India is actively integrating U.S. military platforms such as the C-130J, C-17, P-8I, CH-47F, MH-60R, AH-64E Apache, Harpoon missiles, M777 howitzers, and MQ-9B drones into its arsenal. Discussions are underway to finalize additional sales and pursue defence industrial partnerships, including joint production of engines like the F414 and engines for Tejas light combat aircraft—topics that came to prominence during the Hegseth‑Singh conversation .

A recent appeal from Minister Singh urged expedited delivery of GE F404 engines and confirmation of a HAL–GE Aerospace co-production deal for F414 engines—critical to maintaining the Tejas production schedule .

Signing the new framework will deepen interoperability, enhance defence-industrial ecosystems, and integrate supply chains, logistics, training, and joint exercises. Both nations aim to institutionalize collaboration through platforms like the India‑U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem Summit and launch the Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance .

A Pentagon spokesperson noted that the 10-year agreement will be inked when Rajnath Singh and Pete Hegseth next meet, expected later in the year.Though no exact date has been confirmed, the announcement signifies a clear path toward long-term institutional cooperation, with structural mechanisms to sustain it.

This defence blueprint complements existing foundational agreements—BECA, COMCASA, and LTC—and further cements India’s role as a critical U.S. strategic partner in Asia .

The new framework represents a strategic hedge against regional security risks, particularly concerning China. It showcases India's commitment to modernizing its military capabilities, progressing from being a major importer to becoming a co-developer and manufacturer of key defence systems . For the U.S., it strengthens ties with the world’s largest democracy and enhances influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Once formalized, the 10-year defence framework will:

• Provide a stable strategic roadmap for joint military planning and procurement.

• Encourage co-production of advanced platforms—from missiles and naval systems to next-gen engines and aerospace technologies.

• Drive military-industrial integration, benefiting both countries through shared economy of scale and innovation.

• Support deeper military interoperability via joint exercises, logistics, and alignment of operational doctrines.

The impending 10-year defence framework is more than a diplomatic milestone—it’s a strategic architecture that aims to anchor India–U.S. defence ties in institutional depth, trust, and shared capability. As Defence Minister Singh and Secretary Hegseth prepare to finalize signatures in the coming months, both nations appear on the cusp of a transformative leap in geopolitical partnership.