The US Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday confirmed that the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem, or INDUS-X initiative will take place in Washington just before Indian PM Narendra Modi visits the White House. INDUS-X is expected to accelerate and scale up commercial technology with military applications by bringing together stakeholders from the US and India, including research and academic institutions, industry, startups, and investors.
According to a senior US Defence Department official, the initiative would provide agreed-upon standards for certification and testing and make it easier for startup companies to take their technology into the defence arena as they obtain financing for it.
Introducing Indus X: US and India join forces in the Indo-Pacific to counter China's aggression. PM Modi's visit sparks launch of vital initiative, fostering technology-sharing, defense trade, and strengthening alliances.
— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) June 21, 2023
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Overview
INDUS-X was launched in collaboration with the Department of Defence and India’s Department of Defence Production. It refers to an initiative enhancing strategic and defence cooperation between India and the US. It aims to strengthen collaboration between the US and Indian defence innovation sectors.
The initiative will focus on increasing high-tech collaboration and encouraging cooperative research, development, and manufacturing prospects in the defence sector. The objective is to explore the feasibility of co-producing jet engines, long-range artillery, and infantry vehicles.
According to a statement on the Chamber’s website:
“INDUS X has the potential to be a catalyst for India to achieve its target of $5 billion in defence exports by 2025 and for India to diversify its defence supply chain. The conference will feature a defence exhibition where firms will showcase technologies and platforms that can benefit both countries’ border security, maritime domain awareness, space situational awareness and more, contributing to a more stable and secure Indo-Pacific region.”
On Wednesday, several significant startups from both nations will demonstrate the next generation of defence and space technologies, emphasising the importance of free, rule-based societies.
At the launch of INDUS-X, Atul Keshap, President of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), stated that next-generation satellites, which will help own the next domain of defence, advanced robotics, drones, and other autonomous systems, undetected technology for soldiers, temperature resistant combat apparel, new artificial intelligence applications, and innovative imaging systems, could all be on display during the exhibition.
“We’re thrilled to see INDUS X working for peace and preparing coordination in a way that we've never experienced between India and the United States.”@USAmbIndia Eric Garcetti joined us for #INDUSX to discuss the U.S. and India's strategic partnership. pic.twitter.com/0Nz2SrT8Vk
— U.S. Chamber (@USChamber) June 21, 2023
India-US Growing Partnership
On Tuesday, a senior US Defence Department official stated at the Pentagon that INDUS-X is a transformational moment in the US-India defence partnership.
“To have the world’s largest democracies with some of the most innovative workers and companies working more closely together on strategic technologies and how we can leverage them for security is a natural next step in this relationship,” the official said during a briefing.
According to the official, the US and India are progressively accomplishing initiatives concerning defence cooperation that hardly anyone would have predicted twenty years ago.
In addition, India is joining the US in annual air and sea drills in the region, as stated by the US official. “We now have working groups on everything ranging from cyberspace and critical technologies to maritime security, and India is leading in those forums together with the US and like-minded partners,” the official remarked.
The US official confirmed that the critical technologies include artificial intelligence, improved sensor development, unmanned systems, quantum physics, and submarine domain awareness.
In the coming decades, India will be a crucial strategic partner for the US. According to the official, India’s increasing commitment to playing a more involved international role, notably in the Indo-Pacific Quad, reflects a new and growing willingness to join the US in defending and advancing a shared vision of free, open, and rules-based global order.
During the press briefing, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh discusses issues like India receiving S-400s from Russia and Modi's state visit to the US this week.
Although Singh refused to elaborate, she assured that the US remains “deeply confident in India’s diversification of equipment” and that the plan for industrial cooperation would further integrate the US and Indian defence industries.