India-US Working Together To Produce Armoured Vehicle, MQ-9B Drones' Procurement Details To Be Disclosed Later: Austin

India and the US have agreed to collaborate on the production of an infantry combat vehicle as a part of their defense industrial cooperation, according to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

After the '2+2' defence and foreign ministerial dialogue in Delhi on Friday (10 November), he addressed a small group of journalists and made this statement.

The US delegation, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinkenand Austin included other officials. On the Indian side, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were present.

“We are working together to co-produce an armoured vehicle and that is extremely important,” Austin said according to the Indian Express.

During the discussion, he mentioned that the talks addressed various topics, including the growing security concerns related to China.

He also emphasised that the bond between the US and India goes beyond the challenges posed by China, as it is rooted in the shared values of both nations.

During questioning about the procurement of 31 MQ-9B drones from the US, Austin stated that the details of the project will be disclosed at an appropriate time.

Government officials are working tirelessly to ensure that India acquires the necessary capability as swiftly as possible, he said.

US Defense Secretary Austin announced that the United States and India are increasing their defense activities in various areas, including space and undersea operations.

Significant events and updates in the Indo-Pacific region, Middle East, and Ukraine were also discussed. The cooperation between the US and India has reached new heights, according to the defence secretary.