India and U.S. in talks for Stryker infantry vehicles and Javelin missiles

India and U.S. in talks for Stryker infantry vehicles and Javelin missiles

Sub: Science and tech

Sec: Defence

India-U.S. Defence Collaboration:

• India is in early talks with the U.S. about co-producing Stryker infantry vehicles and Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM).

Details:

• Deals for MQ-9B Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and GE-414 jet engines are progressing, along with defence collaborations under the Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) framework.
• The GE-414 engine licence manufacture by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk1A is in advanced stages, discussing facility separation from those involved with Russian hardware.

New Strategic Partnerships:

• India and the U.S. are launching a strategic semiconductor partnership between General Atomics and 3rd ITECH to co-develop semiconductor design and manufacturing for precision-guided ammunition and other security electronics.

iCET Framework and Industry Engagement:

• The iCET framework aims to blend government engagements with private sector participation, broadening engagement across societies.
• $90 million for the U.S.-India Global Challenges Institute highlights high-impact university research, indicating India’s growing role in tech supply chains and clean energy.

Defense Equipement	Description
Stryker	The Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled armoured fighting vehicles derived from the Canadian LAV III, itself derived from the Swiss Mowag Piranha. Stryker vehicles are produced by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada (GDLS-C) for the United States Army in a plant in London, Ontario. It has four-wheel drive (8×4) and can be switched to all-wheel drive (8×8). The Stryker was conceived as a family of vehicles forming the backbone of a new medium-weight brigade combat team (BCT) that was to strike a balance between Armored brigade combat teams (heavy armor) and Infantry brigade combat teams.
Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM)	The FGM-148 Javelin, or Advanced Anti-Tank Weapon System-Medium (AAWS-M), is an American-made man-portable anti-tank system in service since 1996 and continuously upgraded. Its fire-and-forget design features automatic infrared guidance, allowing the user to seek cover immediately after launch, in contrast to wire-guided systems, like the system used by the Dragon, which requires a user to guide the weapon throughout the engagement. The Javelin’s high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead can defeat modern tanks by top-down attack, hitting them from above, where their armour is thinnest, and is also useful against fortifications in a direct attack flight. The javelin uses a tandem charge warhead to circumvent an enemy tank’s explosive reactive armour (ERA) which would normally make HEAT warheads ineffective.
MQ-9B Predator Drone	The MQ-9B drone is a variant of the MQ-9 “Reaper”, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations. These are high-altitude long-endurance drones armed with strike missiles which can take out enemy targets with high accuracy. It was developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), primarily for the United States Air Force (USAF). The MQ-9B has two variants — SkyGuardian and its sibling SeaGuardian. The Indian Navy has been operating the MQ-9B Sea Guardian since 2020.
GE-414 engine	The turbo engine has been in use by the US Navy for more than 30 years. The engines are in the thrust class of 22,000 lb or 98 kN and feature advanced technology such as Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC)– the latest aircraft ignition and engine control system that controls engine performance digitally- according to GE. The use of advanced material and cooling techniques improves performance and extends component life. F414-powered jets: Eight nations have F414-powered aircraft in operation. F414-GE-400 engines power the US Navy’s Boeing F/A- 18E/F Super Hornet and EA18G Growler electric attack aircraft. Saab’s Gripen E/F fighters use the F414G, the single-engine variant of the F414-GE-400. As per the company, it can also power emerging platforms like Korean KF-X.

Source: TH