Foreign Secretary Misri takes up issue of pending Tejas jet engines with US

Senior officials of India and the US, on Wednesday, met and discussed crucial issues pertaining to defence ties, procurement of military equipment and expected technology transfer, besides cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

India has been asking the US to get the delivery of engines for the Tejas fighter jet expedited. Being made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the jet is to be powered by US manufacturer General Electric's F404 engine.

Vikram Misri, who took over as Foreign Secretary in August, met Deputy Secretary Defence Kathleen Hicks.

Among several issues, India has been asking the US to get the delivery of engines for the Tejas fighter jet expedited. Being made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the jet is to be powered by US manufacturer General Electric's F404 engine. The supply of engines have been delayed and, in turn, delaying the delivery of the jets to the IAF.

The delivery of jets was to start in March, but so far, not a single plane has been delivered. The Ministry of Defence has set a target of making 16 planes in this financial year.

India and US are also looking to co-produce the GE's F414 engine in India for use in the next generation of Tejas jets.

A statement put out by the US Department of Defence quoted Pentagon spokesperson Eric Pahon as saying, "They also discussed ongoing efforts to co-produce jet engines, land mobility systems, and munitions, as well as the continued progress through the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) to foster joint innovation among defense industry stakeholders in both countries."

Hicks and Misri discussed priorities for strengthening the US-India defence partnership through industrial cooperation, technology innovation, and operational cooperation, the US said.

Hicks put out a post on X about the meeting, "I met with Indian Foreign Secretary Misri to discuss the significant momentum in the US-India defense relationship and our increased cooperation to support a free and open Indo-Pacific."

The Indian Embassy in the US put out a post on X saying, "Accelerating the momentum in India-US Defence Partnership. Both sides applauded the growing depth and scope of the bilateral defence partnership and agreed to intensify discussions going forward."

The armies of both nations have just finished exercise 'Yudh Abhyaas' in India. The two will join hands with Australia and Japan for the exercise 'Malabar' commencing on October 8 in the Bay of Bengal.

India is also looking to source the Javelin anti-tank missile and co-produce the land use vehicle, the 'Stryker'. It is also negotiating a deal for 31 armed drones.

Misri also met Principal Deputy NSA Jonathan Finer and discussed with him the ever-expanding India-US strategic partnership, including through iCET or the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology. The US NSA and Indian NSA are steering the iCET that has multiple verticals of technology, including on space, semi-conductors, defence and AI.