The second India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem Summit, INDUS-X Summit 2024 was held recently in New Delhi. Organized jointly by iDEX, Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defense, it focused on strengthening defence innovation and manufacturing cooperation.
About INDUS-X Summit
- Initiated in 2022 to enhance India-US defence ties
- Aims to promote co-development, co-production, joint capability development
- Facilitates collaboration between defence manufacturers, startups, MSMEs
Areas of Cooperation
- Defence tech and capability building
- Supply chain development
- Interoperability for shared security
Key Facts about 2024 Summit
- Organizers: Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), US-India Business Council (USIBC)
- Over 200 participants from defence ministries, forces, industry
- Identified 30+ leads for joint collaboration
Strategic Importance
- Highlights India-US role in ensuring free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific
- Opportunity to shape regional security environment
Focus Areas
Indigenization and Innovation
- Investments in emerging tech through iDEX, offset policies
- DRDO’s partnerships with industry, academia
Supply Chain Resilience
- Securing dependable sources for components
- Reducing vulnerability to disruptions
Interoperability and Information Sharing
- Advancing military hardware and software compatibility
- Intelligence coordination for joint planning
Major India-US Defence Partnerships
| Initiative | Year | Objective |
| Defence Technology and Trade Initiative | 2012 | Streamline tech transfers, promote JVs |
| Industrial Security Annex | 2019 | Exchange classified defence info |
| Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement | 2020 | Share geo-spatial data for accuracy |
| 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue | 2018 | Discuss strategic defence issues |
Enhancing Operational Coordination
- Complex exercises testing land, air, naval capacity
- Information exchange through liaison officers
- Logistics support agreement utilizing each other’s facilities
Platforms and Acquisitions
- India acquiring helicopters, transport aircrafts
- Exploring additional purchases like armed drones
- US easing export barriers for high-tech systems
Strategic Convergence in Indo-Pacific
- Concerns over destabilizing activities in region
- Scope for coordinating regional capacity building
Joint Experimentation and Testing
- Leveraging test facilities in India and US
- Validating systems suitability and specifications
Enhancing Private Sector Participation
The summit focused on steps to boost India’s private defence industry which remains constrained despite policy reforms.
Innovation Platforms
- Support instruments like iDEX, Technology Development Fund to help commercialize innovations
- Create mechanisms for fielding prototypes
Ease of Doing Business
- Simplify regulatory requirements and processes for improved experience
- Faster clearances, tax clarity, flexible testing provisions
Access to Finance
- Expanded measures beyond funding just R&D, prototypes
- Support through entire lifecycle covering working capital, credit guarantees
Global Value Chains
- Enable private sector integration into global aerospace and defence supply chains through partnerships
- Facilitate technology diffusion from foreign OEMs
Exports Ecosystem
- Scheme to reimburse R&D expenses to boost defence exports
- Focused trade promotion activities abroad
Robust partnerships with Indian private sector will expand capital base and capacity in priority capability areas while reducing dependence on imports and lowering lifecycle costs.
Strategic Convergence
With China’s military modernization and coercive activities causing concern, India and the US remain committed to upholding international rules and norms.
Securing Global Commons
- Maintaining open access to seaborne trade, flight passages
- Unimpeded flow of data and infrastructure
Preventing Grey Zone Coercion
- Countering information wars, indirect aggression
- Building resilient supply chains and critical infrastructure
The INDUS-X Summit is playing a crucial role in activating the defence relationship between both countries across emerging areas of mutual interest through concrete collaborations for joint capability enhancement. Political convergence must continue being leveraged to transform the partnership into a collaborative force upholding stability, security and growth across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
