Two new US-India agreements: a short history of growing defence ties

Last Updated28/08/2024

The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) of 2020 aimed to facilitate the sharing of military information including maps, nautical charts, and other unclassified imagery and data.

India and the United States have continued to deepen their defence and security cooperation, culminating in the signing of two significant agreements: the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) and a Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers.
These agreements mark the latest steps in a series of bilateral military collaborations that have grown substantially over the past decade, reinforcing the strategic partnership between the two nations.

The Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) is a strategic agreement under which India and the US will provide reciprocal priority support for goods and services critical to national defence.
This arrangement is designed to ensure that both countries can access necessary industrial resources to address unexpected supply chain disruptions, thus bolstering national security.
Although SOSA is legally non-binding, it represents a key mechanism for enhancing interoperability and strengthening ties with US defence trade partners. India now joins 17 other nations that have signed similar agreements with the US.
The DoD has been working to conclude another agreement with India, the Reciprocal Defence Procurement (RDP) Agreement, which will be binding. The US has signed RDP Agreements with 28 countries so far.

This agreement builds on previous decisions to enhance information-sharing between the two countries by posting Indian armed forces officers in key strategic US Commands.
The first Indian Liaison Officer will be deployed to the US Special Operations Command headquarters in Florida, marking a new level of operational collaboration and strategic alignment.

This cooperation was formally recognized in the 2013 Joint US-India Declaration on Defence Cooperation and the 2015 Framework for the US-India Defence Relationship.
These foundational documents laid the groundwork for increased bilateral defence activities, including joint exercises, technology sharing, and defence trade.

The 2023 US-India Roadmap for Defence Industrial Cooperation outlines a vision for co-production projects, including jet engines, unmanned platforms, munitions, and ground mobility systems.
This roadmap underscores the commitment to integrating the Indian defence industry into global supply chains and enhancing India's capabilities in naval and maritime infrastructure. Priority areas for collaboration include Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Undersea Domain Awareness, and Air Combat systems.

Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET): Launched in January 2023, iCET aims to expand the strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between India and the US. Discussions between National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan have focused on co-development and co-production opportunities.
India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X): Launched in June 2023 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US, INDUS-X advances the defence innovation bridge concept under iCET.
Foundational Defence Agreements: India and the US have signed several foundational agreements to strengthen military cooperation:
- General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) (2002): Facilitates the sharing of military information.
- Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) (2016): Establishes terms for reciprocal logistic support.
- Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) (2018): Secures military communications and facilitates access to advanced defence systems.
- Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) (2020): Enhances the sharing of geospatial intelligence.
- Industrial Security Annex (ISA) (2019): Facilitates the exchange of classified information between defence industries.

India's designation as a Major Defence Partner by the US in 2016 and its elevation to Strategic Trade Authorisation tier 1 status in 2018 have significantly boosted defence trade and technology collaboration.
Key agreements like the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) and the Memorandum of Intent between the US Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Indian Defence Innovation Organization (DIO-iDEX) have furthered industrial cooperation.
Significant military procurements from the US include MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, Sig Sauer rifles, and M777 howitzers.
Ongoing negotiations for manufacturing GE F-414 jet engines in India and the procurement of MQ-9B UAVs highlight the growing defence collaboration.