US envoy calls on Parrikar

India and the US today discussed issues relating to growing bilateral military cooperation, in what is seen as a follow-up action to US President Barack Obama's visit.
The issue of Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI), that was firmed up during Obama's visit, is understood to have been raised during the meeting between American envoy here Richard Verma and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Even though Defence Ministry officials here described it as a "courtesy call" by the envoy, Verma tweeted saying he had "great discussions" on the growing Indo-US defence ties.
The meeting comes ahead of a visit by US Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L), Frank Kendall later this month.

This would be his second visit this year. In January, Kendall, Pentagon's point person on India-related defence issues in particular on the DTTI, along with Indian officials had agreed upon four "pathfinder projects".
Besides looking to finalise the intricacies of the agreed projects, more proposals would be discussed during his visit which is scheduled to begin on February 23.

This will include discussions on the Working Group to explore aircraft carrier technology besides designing and development of jet engine technology.
India is interested in the EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System), which propels fighters into the sky from carrier decks, thereby allowing increased payload of the aircraft and saving of fuel.

India currently operates two aircraft carriers and a third is under construction. Sources estimate that it will take at least 15 years before another carrier with such a technology came come up.
US is using this next-generation technology on its new Gerald R Ford Class carrier, which is currently under construction.
About two years ago, US had proposed a list of 17 items under the DTTI. It had also asked India to give a list of projects that it was interested in. After consultations, the Indian side presented a list of about six high-technology projects that it wanted to procure and jointly produce.

However, the US had turned them down citing its law on export of military hardware to countries that were not signatories to three foundational documents, that the previous UPA government had not agreed to.
Finally, with political push from the White House and the Prime Minister's Office, the two sides agreed to the four "pathfinder projects" and working Group for the other two.