Rajnath Singh made a fresh pitch to American firms to carry out joint research and development, co-production of systems, and manufacturing and maintenance of military hardware in the country. He said it was part of the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ initiative.
The agreement aims to facilitate the exchange of classified information between their defence industries.
India has imposed a phased import ban on 310 different weapons and systems. These weapons and platforms will be indigenised in phases over the next five to six years. Singh had earlier said there are provisions that provide opportunities to foreign companies to invest, collaborate, set up joint ventures and earn profit.
India’s Defence Minister Manmohan Singh has said the US is aware that India and Russia are “natural allies”. India will not allow its relationship with a third country to adversely affect US “core national interests,” he told Hindustan Times in an interview earlier this month.
