Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a US visit. PM will address the US Parliament for the second time. This is a great honour. This will be the same honor as former British PM Winston Churchill would have received after World War II. The relations between India and America strengthened only after 2000. During that time, China also started showing its power in the South China Sea.
India-America came very close. A relationship of trust and confidence was formed between the two and it grew stronger every year. For the first time, the discussion between India and America on defense matters started in 2002. The quad was dreamed up in 2007. Japan's PM Shinzo Abe first proposed this idea. In 2008, we started getting military aircraft (P-8I, C-130). The larger C-17 cargo plane followed. Chinook and Apache came much later.
How relations started with America
Then we bought BBJ (Boeing Business Jet) as a VVIP aircraft. Now the number comes for the aircraft for PM and President, so we bought Boeing 777. We have helicopter MH-60 for the Navy. Now we are going to buy Predator drone (General Atomics MQ-1 Predator). Although two of these are already part of the Indian Navy, but now we can get approval for 30 Predator drones. For the first time, America has offered to make jet engines with 100% technology from India. G-404 is already being used in LCA (light Combat Aircraft) Mark I. Now the upgraded version of this engine, LCA Mark 1-A will also be installed. For this, 99 engines have been ordered.
What is General Electric F-414?
Now the F-414 engines are going to be made in India. This is a General Electric engine (General Electric F-414). In short form it is called GE. It is already working in different areas in India. like health care. GE is also being used in this. America is already putting a unit of General Electric Engine in India in association with Tata. Now a big initiative has been taken regarding its use in aerospace. The most important thing in any fighter jet is its engine. The engine alone accounts for about a third of the cost of a jet. Till now only four countries (America, France, UK and Russia) make jet engines in the world. Now if these engines start being made in India, then it will be a great success. China has also lost many hands and feet. He also invested a lot but he could not succeed.
This fear is haunting Americans
No country shares its technology. This is a big deal. America is ready for this. That too 100 percent. Engines are already being made in India. But that on the license of Russia and UK. Nobody gave us technology. We have the technique of production. Let us try to explain you in simple language. We got the product and got a map. You keep fitting it as it is mentioned in that map, the engine will be ready. But no one shares the information about the components for it.
Americans say that this is a serious issue. America is going to transfer 100% technology of jet engine to India. This will create an ecosystem where medium and small scale orders will be available in India itself. India will have the capability to make engines for a long time. Some deals will be signed during PM Modi's US visit. PM will also address the US Parliament. This means that America is able to recognize this sensitivity despite our close relations with Russia. It also means that this is our strategic policy and autonomy. America also wants that it is very important for India to remain strong because China is continuously increasing its power in South Asia. Here, if anyone can stop China, then it is India only.
Drone technology
Drone technology is being used extensively all over the world. The Russia-Ukraine war is being fought with drones only. We already have an association with America regarding technology. Army, Navy, Airforce, Police, BSF and many agencies are using drones. This but it is very small, easily you can pick it up in your hand. Today there are more than 100 startups of small drones in India. PM Modi himself has inaugurated two major programs of the Drone Association. But what are large drones? This is also a question. DRDO is working on Tapas drone. One of these aircraft also flew during the Aero India show this year. We are able to develop very fast in drone technology. It is expected that in the next few years you will see the use of these drones in the army. But for this we have to depend on imports only. India has bought Searcher and Heron from Israel. But we need bigger drones. The US Congress had approved sending the Predator a few years ago. The Government of India had approved the purchase of 30 General Atomics MQ-1 Predator out of them. Now it is expected that there will be some deal on PM Modi's visit.
India needs fighter aircraft
India will have to increase its strength in this direction. At present, India's capacity is 42 fighter squadrons. But right now only 30-31 fighter jets are left with India. Upgrade version Mark 1A will start arriving next year and all Mark 1A (83 of them) will arrive by 2029. This gap needs to be filled. We should never forget that India is one of the most dangerous countries. Its two neighbors are both endowed with nuclear power. Our relations with both are strained. Incidentally we have Rafale. It has landed with the Navy. The advantage of Rafale is that we are already familiar with its ecosystem. On the other hand is the F-18 with the GE engine. It will be produced in India only.
PM Modi's personality
PM Modi is a charismatic leader. He is one of the most popular leaders in the world. Important decisions have been taken in the last nine years. Whether it is the development of infrastructure or promoting indigenization under self-reliant India. Along with this, a strong relationship has to be made with a large number of leaders. It is known when he is on a foreign trip and at that time when he meets people there, his body language says something else. This is the reason why the whole world is inclined towards India.
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