Rajnath visits U.S. submarine testing facility as India eyes similar centre

Context: In a
reflection of the growing cooperation in undersea domain and anti-submarine
warfare (ASW) between India and the U.S., also a priority area between the Quad
partners, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during his ongoing tour of the U.S.,
visited the William B. Morgan Large Cavitation Channel (LCC) in the Naval
Surface Warfare Centre at Memphis, Tennessee, as India also plans to set up a
similar facility.

Security
of Supply Agreement (SoSA) with U.S.

·       About: India and
the United States signed a Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) to address
disruptions in the defence supply chain. With this agreement, India becomes the
18th country to partner with the US under SOSA. Other countries include
Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK, and several European nations.

·       Purpose: The
agreement allows both countries to access each other’s resources if there are
interruptions in the supply chain, like the delays India is facing in receiving
jet engines from the US for its Tejas fighter jets.

·       Features: The pact
includes clauses that enable India and the US to access industrial resources
from one another to handle unexpected supply chain problems ensuring they can
meet their national security needs. Both nations agreed to give each other
priority for goods and services that support national defence. The US and India
pledged to support each other’s requests for the delivery of critical defence
resources on a priority basis.

·       Benefits: 1. Strengthening Defence Ties- The
SOSA agreement strengthens the relationship between India and the US in defence
trade and cooperation, particularly in times of peace, emergencies, and
conflicts. 2. Support for Indian Vendors- The
arrangement could make it easier for US companies to source supplies from
Indian vendors, boosting India’s defence manufacturing sector. 3. US Defence Assurance: The US
has assured India support under its “Defence Priorities and Allocations System”
focusing on bilateral defence supplies.

Key
points

·       Overview: The
Security of Supply Agreement (SoSA) signed on Friday is one of the two
broad-based defence industrial cooperation agreements currently under
discussion between the two countries as cooperation between defence industries
deepens, and comes following the conclusion of all four foundational agreements.

·       Agreement: Through
this SoSA, the U.S. and India agree to provide reciprocal priority support for
goods and services that promote national defence. The arrangement will enable
both countries to acquire the industrial resources they need from one another
to resolve unanticipated supply chain disruptions to meet national security
needs.