New Delhi, October 20
Just two weeks ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit, New Delhi has visibly firmed up its stance and said that it sees no use in signing any “binding down” military agreements. Top sources in the Ministry of Defence said New Delhi was studying what Washington calls the “foundation” for transferring high-tech communications equipment. India is buying or is in the process of buying several US-made platforms, including medium lift and heavy lift military transport planes, long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft and VVIP business jets. Users of planes -- the Indian Air force and Navy -- have made told the MoD that these agreements serve little purpose and were “binding down” rather than being “enablers”.

Defence Ministry sources today confirmed: “…We do not want to be tied down with one type of technology… India is not keen on the agreements.” Still, technical persons are studying the benefits of these. The two agreements are Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement For Geospatial Cooperation.

The US says these were technology enablers and would make military platforms technically “more potent”. Last Friday, Air Chief Air Marshal PV Naik had, in a reply to a question on the benefits or drawbacks of not signing these agreements, said “…it will not make any substantial difference to our operational capabilities”.

However, the US claims that the communications interoperability and security agreement will enable interoperability between air forces of both countries. Senior functionaries see this as a needless “prop” and India sees no benefit in the IAF being interoperable with the US.