“The United States and India share a common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Kelli L. Seybolt. “This co-development agreement further operationalizes India’s status as a major defense partner and builds upon our existing strong defense cooperation.”
The project is valued at more than $22 million with costs shared equally, and marks the largest-ever defense research, development, test and evaluation collaboration between the United States and India. The objectives are the design, development, demonstration, test and evaluation of technologies, including physical hardware such as small UAVs, avionics, payload power, propulsion and launch systems through prototyping that meet the operational requirements of the Indian and U.S. Air Forces.
The co-development project will be carried out jointly between the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
“This important project agreement comes after many months invested by the AFSAC team, AFLCMC program offices, AFRL, Air Force International Affairs, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, as well as our Indian Air Force and DRDO counterparts working together, side-by-side, on common national security interests,” said Bruckbauer. “I am proud of the dedicated teamwork and partnership this project agreement represents for both of our countries.”
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