India re-examining US pacts that could give access to top-notch weapons like armed drones

NEW DELHI: The NDA government is now as soon as once more re-examining the 2 other “foundational agreements” being pushed through the United States for over 15 years now, after inking the bilateral army logistics pact in 2016, in a sharp departure from the former UPA regime that had nearly rejected them.

India and the United States will hang recent discussions at the two pacts — Communications Compatibility and Security Arrangement (COMCASA) and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation (BECA) — at a meeting right here on Thursday and Friday.

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Several such army functions had been recognized within the defence ministry’s new "Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap-2018" to provide the trade with an summary of the rustic’s offensive and defensive army requirements up to the overdue 2020s.


“The defence ministry (MoD) is severely re-examining COMCASA and BECA, and can do a cost-benefit research to completely understand the technical implications involved. The US says inking the pacts will allow India more access to state-of-the-art army technologies and platforms with encrypted and safe communications like armed drones,” stated a supply.

India has for long been all in favour of acquiring armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) like MQ-9 Reaper or Predator-B drones, which fly like fighter jets to fireplace missiles on enemy objectives after which return to their bases to re-arm for subsequent mission, from the United States.

But the 2 countries to this point have held formal discussions best at the possible sale of 22 unarmed Sea Guardians + , that are high-altitude, long-endurance drones able to flying non-stop for over 27 hours for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, at an estimated cost of $2 billion.

“The US not too long ago introduced its new policy on export of armed/unarmed drones to pleasant countries, with end-use tracking and additional security stipulations. If India at all comes to a decision to obtain such pricey drones, then they clearly will be the armed ones somewhat than ones used only for reconnaissance,” stated the supply.

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The US contends COMCASA is a “era enabler” to lend a hand transfer high-tech avionics, encrypted communique and electronic methods to India in addition to be sure secrecy of its C4ISR (command, keep watch over, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) methods from leaking to other countries like Russia.


But India has to this point been hesitant to ink the pact despite having bought army hardware and instrument value $15 billion from the United States since 2007. Instead of encrypted and safe radio, information, navigation, steerage and communique methods secure through COMCASA, India has used commercially available kits to equip its US-origin C-130J Super Hercules, C-17 Globemaster-III and P-8I Poseidon airplane despite some aid in their operational functions.


There are well-liked fears that using American C4ISR methods could compromise India’s tactical operational security, enabling the United States to keep observe of Indian warships and airplane. “The MoD will study the COMCASA being offered intimately. Much like the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) inked in 2016, India would love a less-restrictive COMCASA that addresses all its concerns,” stated any other supply.


India re-examining US pacts that could give access to top-notch weapons like armed drones India re-examining US pacts that could give access to top-notch weapons like armed drones Reviewed by Kailash on May 03, 2018 Rating: 5
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