India plans to diversify its weaponry sources, while also prioritizing indigenously produced artillery
As per the latest reports, a senior official from America’s Pentagon said that the US and India will collaborate to develop drones, as a way to counter China. This official further added that India will build these aircraft and export them to regional countries.
It is noteworthy that we currently import most of our defence arms from Russia. With the geopolitical winds swirling haphazardly, it is evident that India is planning to diversify its weaponry sources, while also pushing hard to indigenously produce defence equipment.
The assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific security affairs, Eli Ratner told the media that they wanted to support India on both fronts. “In practical terms, that means that we’re going to be working closely with India on co-producing and co-developing capabilities that will support India’s own defence modernization goals,” Ratner said.
Mentioning the possibility of developing drones launched from airplanes and anti-drone defence systems, Ratner added, “We’re having good conversations with our counterparts in the Indian government at the highest levels about our respective priorities in that regard, and we hope to have more to announce on this front before too long.”
After years of cold relations, the two countries came closer in recent times, thanks to Chinese aggression under Jinping. It must be noted that India became a “major defence partner” to the US back in 2016 following which, various agreements to strengthen military cooperation and facilitate easy transfers of top-grade arms have been signed.
