NEW DELHI, Jun 23 The United States is one of the most India's important defense partners, said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Today, the United States has become one of our most important defense partners. Today, India and the United States work together in space and sea, science and semiconductors, start-ups and sustainability, technology and trade, and agriculture and finance, art and artificial intelligence,» he said at a speech in the US Congress.
Earlier, Modi said that India and the US have «transferred to a relationship that includes technology transfer, joint development and production» of defense equipment.
The day before, GE Aerospace, a subsidiary of General Electric, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to produce GE Aerospace F414 engines for jet fighters for the Indian Air Force Tejas Mk2. GE-F414 engines are used in several modern next-generation combat aircraft around the world. These engines are currently in operation on the Boeing F-18 Super Hornet two-seat fighter jets and the next-generation Saab JAS 39-Gripen single-engine combat aircraft, and are also being integrated into aircraft being built in South Korea.
A number of US and Indian media allege that the US has agreed to transfer about 80% of the technology of this engine to India — an unprecedented move given that America maintains strict control over domestic military technology and has never transferred such important technological know-how in the past -how to countries that are not allies.