On US defence secretary Ashton Carter’s visit to India, the two countries are going to ink their new 10-year defence framework. Carter will talk with top leadership in Delhi on joint development of defence technology. The signing of new defence framework was decided during Barack Obama’s visit to India in January. This framework expands the bilateral defence ties, ranging from maritime security to aircraft carrier and jet engine technology cooperation.

The framework will be inked in meeting between Carter and defence minister Manohar Parrikar. Carter is also slated to meet PM Narendra Modi, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and national security advisor Ajit Doval.

Under the new framework, India and the US have agreed to begin four relatively modest “pathfinder projects”. They are,

1. Raven mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

2. “roll-on, roll-off” mission modules for C-130J Super Hercules aircraft

3. Mobile electric hybrid power sources

4. Chemical-biological warfare protection gear for soldiers.

The US is also offering the Scorpion light attack aircraft which can be used as an intermediate jet trainer (IJT) by the IAF.

Tidbits

• The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia.
• The Pentagon was designed by American architect George Bergstrom and built by general contractor John McShain of Philadelphia.
• General Raymond Thomas “Ray” Odierno is the current United States Army General.