(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
India-US Defence Ties Stay Strong Amid Trade Tensions
Pune, Maharashtra: India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh shared some reassuring news on Friday about the strong defence partnership between India and the US. Even with ongoing trade tensions, including 50% tariffs on Indian products, he stressed that defence collaboration hasn’t faced any major hurdles. "On defence, there’s no spillover from those trade issues," Singh said during a press conference. "In fact, the tensions are easing, and our negotiations are back on track. We hope for a successful outcome soon."
Speaking at the Southern Command Defence Tech Seminar (STRIDE 2025), Singh pointed to fresh examples of this solid India-US defence cooperation. He highlighted how the Indian Army recently welcomed its first batch of Apache helicopters, boosting its firepower. These advanced choppers arrived at Hindon Airbase on July 22, marking a big milestone. The Indian Army celebrated the moment on social media, calling it a game-changer: "These state-of-the-art platforms will significantly enhance our operational capabilities."
Singh also mentioned the steady supply of engines for India’s homegrown Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) just received its third GE404 engine from General Electric on Thursday, with one more set to arrive by the end of September 2025. This advanced fighter jet is set to replace the ageing MiG-21s in the Indian Air Force (IAF), giving it a major upgrade in multi-role capabilities.
The Defence Secretary added that talks between the two nations are moving forward smoothly. "We’re having delegation-level discussions, plus the 2+2 talks from recent times, and they’re continuing now," he said. "GE is delivering engines for the LCA Mk1A without delays, and they’ve even handed over two Apache helicopters to the Indian Army during this period. Overall, our defence ties won’t take much of a hit from trade spats."
On the trade front, things look promising too. Sergio Gor, a close aide to US President Donald Trump and his nominee for US Ambassador to India, recently said the two countries aren’t far from striking a deal on tariffs. He believes the 50% tariff issue on Indian products could wrap up in just a few weeks. This comes even as Trump pushes European Union leaders to impose higher tariffs on India and China over their energy deals with Russia.
These updates show how India-US defence collaboration remains a bright spot, with key projects like Apache helicopters and Tejas engines pushing ahead. It’s a win for India’s military modernization efforts amid global trade challenges.
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