India and the US have identified two new “pathfinder” projects under the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) for the joint production of a helmet-mounted digital display and a biological tactical detection system. The Americans also formally pitched two proposals for the manufacture of fighter jets under the ‘Make in India‘ initiative.

Visiting US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter and his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar also welcomed the finalisation of four government-to-government project agreements in the area of science and technology cooperation — Atmospheric Sciences for High Energy Lasers, Cognitive Tools for Target Detection, Small Intelligent Unmanned Aerial Systems, and Blast and Blunt Traumatic Brain Injury.

• India and the US had initially agreed on four “pathfinder projects” under DTTI — next generation Raven Minis UAVs, roll on and roll off kits for C-130, mobile electric hybrid power source and Uniform Integrated Protection Ensemble Increment-2.
• Under the new initiative, the key project will be helmet- mounted digital display for fighter aircraft and helicopters.
• The Americans have also pushed for joint production of fighter aircraft by Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
• The two countries are also exploring aircraft carrier technology besides the design and development of jet engine technology.