INDUS-X Summit 2024

• 27 Feb 2024

For Prelims: Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Indo-Pacific Region, Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), INDUS-X Summit, Yudh Abhyas, Vajra Prahar, Malabar, Cope India, Red Flag, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC)

For Mains: Cooperation Between India and US, Effect of Policies & Politics of Countries on India's Interests

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD) participated in the second India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) Summit in New Delhi, India.

• The summit was jointly organized by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), MoD, and the DoD, and coordinated by the US-India Business Council (USIBC) and Society of India Defense Manufacturers (SIDM).

What are the Key Highlights of the Second INDUS-X Summit?

• Focus on Indo-Pacific Security:
  • The summit emphasised the critical role India and the US play as key partners in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
  • Discussions centred on co-producing advanced military capabilities, strengthening defence supply chains, and enhancing interoperability to address shared security challenges.
• Promoting Innovation and Collaboration:
  • Emphasis was placed on fostering innovation in defence technologies through collaborative efforts between Indian and American industries.
    • The summit provided a platform for startups and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the defence sector to engage with established players, facilitating knowledge exchange and partnerships.
• Defence Partnership Between India and the United States:
  • The summit highlighted the strong defence partnership between India and the US, citing initiatives like Initiatives on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) aimed at fostering innovation across key sectors, including defence.
• Emphasis on Technological Innovation:
  • The Summit emphasised the crucial role of technological innovation in defence within the broader context of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership, fostering collective progress for defence industries across borders.
• Joint IMPACT Challenges:
  • The Summit highlighted the introduction of Joint IMPACT Challenges, aiming to advance defence and aerospace co-development and co-production collaboratively, involving startups in pioneering solutions.

Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX):

• Launched in 2018, iDEX is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Defence. It is funded and managed by the Defence Innovation Organization (DIO), established as a 'not-for-profit' company under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013.
• iDEX, aims to foster innovation and technology development in the Defence and Aerospace sector.
  • It provides grants, funding, and other support to carry out research and development projects with potential for future adoption in Indian defence and aerospace needs.
• It is currently engaged with around 400+ Startups and MSMEs. Recognized as a game-changer in the defence ecosystem, iDEX has received the PM Award for Innovation in the defence sector.

The US-India Business Council:

• It aims to foster bilateral trade between India and the US, bridging industry and government for long-term commercial partnerships, job creation, and global economic growth.

Society of India Defense Manufacturers:

• SIDM is India's leading Defence Industry association, advocating policy reforms and facilitating collaboration with the government and Armed Forces.

What are the Key Developments in India-US Defence Cooperation?

• Framework and Partnership Renewal:
  • The foundation of India-US defence cooperation lies in the "New Framework for India-US Defence Cooperation," renewed for a decade in 2015.
  • In 2016, the partnership was upgraded to a Major Defence Partnership (MDP).
  • India's elevation to Tier-1 status under the US Department of Commerce’s Strategic Trade Authorization license exception occurred on July 2018.
• Institutionalised Dialogue Mechanisms:
  • The 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, involving the Ministers of External Affairs and Defence from both nations along with their US counterparts, serves as the apex platform for addressing political, military, and strategic issues.
  • The 5^th Edition of the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue took place, Novemebr 2023 in New Delhi.
• Defence Policy Group (DPG):
  • The DPG, led by the Defence Secretary and Under Secretary of Defence (Policy), facilitates a comprehensive review of defence dialogues and mechanisms.
    • The 17^th DPG convened in Washington D.C. in May 2023.
• Defence Procurements and Platforms:
  • Defence procurements from the US are on the rise, amounting to nearly US$20 billion.
  • Key US-origin platforms in use by India include Apache, Chinook, MH60R helicopters, and P8I aircraft.
  • Recently, the US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale of 31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian to India.
• Important Defence Agreements:
  • Significant agreements include Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (2016), Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (2018), Industrial Security Agreement (2019), Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (2020), and Memorandum of Intent for Defence Innovation Cooperation (2018).
• Military-to-Military Exchanges:
  • High-level visits, exercises, training courses, and service-specific bilateral mechanisms facilitate military-to-military exchanges.
  • India participates in a growing number of military exercises with the US, including Yudh Abhyas, Vajra Prahar, Malabar, Cope India, and Tiger Triumph, among others.
  • Participation in multilateral exercises like Red Flag, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), CUTLASS Express, Sea Dragon, and Milan further strengthens cooperation.
  • INS Satpura marked the first Indian naval ship to visit the US mainland as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in August 2022.
  • India joined the multilateral Combined Maritime Force (CMF) as an Associate Partner in April 2022, based in Bahrain.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims:

Q. From which one of the following did India buy the Barak anti-missile defence systems? (2008)

(a) Israel

(b) France

(c) Russia

(d) USA

Ans: (a)

Q. Recently, the USA decided to support India’s membership in multi-lateral export control regimes called the “Australia Group” and the “Wassenaar Arrangement”. What is the difference between them? (2011)

1. The Australia Group is an informal arrangement which aims to allow exporting countries to minimize the risk of assisting chemical and biological weapons proliferation, whereas the Wassenaar Arrangement is a formal group under the OECD holding identical objectives.

2. The Australia Group comprises predominantly of Asian, African and North American countries whereas the member countries of Wassenaar Arrangement are predominantly from the European Union and American Continents.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (d)

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Mains:

Q. What is the significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (2020)

Q. ‘What introduces friction into the ties between India and the United States is that Washington is still unable to find for India a position in its global strategy, which would satisfy India’s National self-esteem and ambitions’. Explain with suitable examples. (2019)