(Image source from: en.wikipedia.org)

With the buzzing rave surrounding the India-US trade deals, things do seem to change around in terms of some of the key trade projects between the two nations. One of the key projects with sharing technology for building the fighter jet engines has been suspended by both the nations. The same was done because of the lack of agreement on some of the specifics along with the lack of initiatives from both the industry.

Both India and US have now settled on some of the new technologies for their joint ventures for the future warfare systems under the specifically signed Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). Some of the projects that they are specifically focusing on include drone warfare, light weight arms along with the network systems.

Ellen M Lord, undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, who was also present in the DTTI review meeting confirmed about the suspension of the jet engine project but at the same time suggested that there are some other aircraft technologies that the nations can work on.

Lord confirmed saying, “The original project is suspended right now. But we are talking about other potential engine working group items.”

Addressing all the issues, Lord stated saying, “We could not come to an understanding of what exportable technologies would be useful to the Indians and we did run into a challenge in terms of US export control. We think there is an enormous amount of aircraft technology that we could together. The teams are working for areas of common interest that we can export.”

By Somapika Dutta