Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Naval Surface Warfare Centre in Carderock on Saturday, where he observed the ongoing experiments and inspected the facilities. He shared his experience in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Visited Naval Surface Warfare Centre at Carderock and witnessed the pathbreaking experiments at the facility. India and the US look forward to working together and benefit from each other’s experiences.”
During his four-day official visit to the US, Singh participated in an industry roundtable organized by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, where he met with senior executives of US defence companies. He highlighted emerging opportunities for co-development and co-production in India’s defence sector, emphasizing that progressive reforms by the Indian government have encouraged many foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), including those from the US, to establish manufacturing units, develop joint ventures, and consider India as an alternative export base.
An official statement noted that the planned co-production of GE 414 aero-engines in India marks a significant milestone in India-US bilateral relations. Singh stressed that “partnership” and “joint efforts” are the key elements that set India’s defence industry collaborations apart from those with other countries.
The event was attended by representatives from major US defence and technology firms, including Boeing, GE, General Atomics, General Dynamics Land Systems, L3 Harris, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, Rolls Royce, and ThayerMahan. Indian companies like ideaForge, Tata Sons, and Tsecond, as well as senior leaders from The Cohen Group, were also present. During the interaction, business leaders discussed their current projects and future plans for India and provided valuable feedback.
Singh emphasized that India is open to US investment and technological collaboration, offering a skilled workforce, a strong pro-FDI and pro-business environment, and a large domestic market.
During his meeting with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the conclusion of the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA), which aims to strengthen the defence industrial ecosystems of both countries and enhance supply chain resilience. Singh and Austin held a bilateral meeting at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on Friday, where they discussed various topics, including bilateral defence cooperation, industrial collaboration, regional security, and other international issues.
Rajnath Singh’s official visit to the US runs from August 23 to 26.