Indo-US Defence cooperation is still conducted under the 1995 Agreed
Minute on Defense Cooperation that recognized the importance of enhanced
cooperation to the well being of the overall Indo-US relationship. The Agreed
Minute envisaged cooperation based on three "legs": 1) closer ties at the level of
civilian defense leadership, 2) between the uniformed services, and, 3) in the
field of defense production and research. This structure for cooperation remains
solid and has been exercised vigorously over the last two years. It consists of
five consultative groups that have each met at least twice in the last two
years.
Defense Policy Group - DPG
(MOD - DOD -- State Dept-MEA)
Military Cooperation Group - MCG
(PACOM - Integrated Defence Staff -- SOCPAC - Indian Services)
Executive Steering Groups - ESGs
(PACAF-PACFLT-USARPAC --SOCPAC- Indian Services)
Joint Technical Group - JTG
(Under Secretary Defense, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics - DRDO)
Security Cooperation Group - SCG
(DSCA - MOD)
Two rounds of the DPG and the associated MCG, ESG, JTG, and SCG have
resulted in agreement in numerous areas. Here are but a few:
- Continue cooperation in Missile Defence
- Sharing presentations on regional security issues
- Discussing issues in CENTCOM's AOR
- Conducting "High Policy Roundtables"
- Cooperating in Peacekeeping Training
- Humanitarian/Disaster Relief
- Combating Terrorism
- Consequence Management
- Environmental Security
- Search & Rescue
- Combined Naval Patrols in Strait of Malacca
- Selling Firefinder radars
- Acquiring P-3 Orions and Destroyers
- Solving Sea King Spares issue
- Expanding Special Forces Training
- Conducting Dissimilar Air Combat Training
- Expanding Navy Malabar Exercises off coast of India
Military cooperation succeeds because of the Indian and US military
establishments' mutual desire to move our relationship forward. The pace of
military cooperation has been measured but robust. In comparison to all other
foreign militaries, the US military has what could be argued as the most frequent
and substantive relationship with the Indian military. Importantly, there is a
growing desire among the Indian military and strong commitment by Indian
service chiefs to expand defense cooperation on a broader front. This point is
easily salient when reviewing the growing number of activities and the agency-
based relationships that have emerged over the past two years.
Indians Taking Advantage of Expanding Training Opportunities
The DOD managed International Military education and Training (IMET)
program funding last year was $1 million (the highest level ever) - which enabled
37 Indian officers to attend training in the U.S. The amount requested for next
year has been increased to $1.2 million. In addition to this, last year there were
more than 200 Indian participants at 53 military related conferences (also a
record high). The US continued to take advantage of training opportunities in
India as well with students attending the National Defence College, DSSC, and
Indian Air Force Pilot Training Course, and participants in an NDC-hosted Asia
Regional Forum conference.
Sailors, Ships, Aircraft, Airmen, and Soldiers Expand Activities
14 US Navy ships visited India since Nov 2001 as well as two Aircraft
Carrier Distinguished Visitor Days. In April and Sep 2002 the Indian Navy Ships
Sukanya and INS Sharda conducted patrols and escorts of US ships through the
Malacca Straits in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In Sep 2002 the
U.S. Army Alaska's 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment welcomed
80 soldiers from the 50th Independent Parachute Brigade flying to Alaska in an
IAF IL-76 to exercise "Geronimo Thrust." Indian and American paratroopers
conducted the first-ever 'live' firing exercise there. In September-October 2002
a tactical naval exercise called Malabar, covering surface, sub-surface and air
warfare over the seas occurred. Indian Navy's Western Fleet fielded its
indigenous Delhi-class destroyer Indian ships of the comprising INS Delhi, a
Godavari-class frigate INS Gomati, and a Shishumar-class submarine INS
Shankul, and the tanker INS Aditya, were arrayed against US Navy's USS
Chancellorsville, a Ticonderoga class Guided Missile Cruiser, the USS Paul F
Foster, a Spruance Class Destroyer, and a SSN submarine of the US. Besides,
a Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft P 3C Orion and Lamps III of the US Navy
and aircraft Dornier, Seaking and Allouette aircraft of Indian Navy also took part
in this exercise. This was the biggest "tactical" exercise held so far between, the
Indian Navy and the US. Over 1500 US and Indian naval personnel participated
during the four day event which featured multi-maneuvers such as flying
operations, anti-submarine warfare exercises, and replenishment at sea to test
each others capabilities at all levels of naval operations. In October 2002, an air
transport exercise (Cope India-02) was held to develop a baseline for future
interoperability that will include a fighter aircraft exchange. USAF personnel on
board Indian IAF IL-76s and Antonov-32s observed Indian paratroopers and
heavy equipment being para-dropped. The Indians marked the difference in the
way the Americans drop cargo with drag-parachutes and prepare drop zones.
Both air forces learned each other's formation flying techniques. By the end of
the exercise, Indian troops learned to drop from C-130 US Hercules transporters.
India and the US have also conducted several navy Search and Rescue
exercises over the past two years. In October 2003, the US and Indian Navies
conducted Malabar 2003, the most complex joint exercise off the coast of Kerala
involving aircraft, warships, submarines, and P-3 Orions and in addition to
traditional wartime areas, exercised in new disciplines such as maritime
interception operation of suspect vessels. The Pentagon's key future think tank,
the Office of Net Assessment and its Indian IDS counterpart conducted a first
seminar in India in 2002, which has lead to exchanges between the defense
research and analyses communities in both countries. In Sep 2003 an oil-spill
distaster management at sea "table top" was conducted at USI with the Indian
Navy, Coast Guard.
Senior Visits
Often the catalyst for new activities, senior military visits proceeded with
remarkable pace. All three Indian Service Chiefs visited the US in 2002.
Commander Pacific Command visited India for the third time in two years in Dec
2002. Commander US Air Forces Pacific visited India in April 2003. The US
Army Chief Staff, visited India in February 2003. Commander US Army Forces
Pacific visited India in June 2003. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited
India in July 2003. India's Air Chief visited the US again in Sep 2003. The US
Chief of Naval Operations visited India in October 2003.
Institutional Relationships Take Off
There have been meetings between US and Indian Defence Intelligence
Agencies in 2002 and 2003 to include an Exchange Conference in DC in July
2003. The Chief of India's New Defense Intelligence Agency traveled to the US
on a counterpart visit twice in the past 16 months to understand the workings of
military intelligence at the national level. The US Joint Staff in the Pentagon and
the Indian Integrated Defense Staff established a formal relationship in April
2002 during the first Joint Staff Talks in DC, led by India's Vice Chief of Defense
Staff, LtGen Joshi. The second set of Joint Staff Talks was held in Sep 2003 in
India. These talks and visits of several specific IDS officers to various US joint
staff offices have occurred regularly to discuss tri-service institutions, joint
military planning, and tri- service doctrine. The US Air Force safety and logistics
experts have begun a relationship with the Indian Air Force, to include a visit to
India in September 2002, which will help the Indian Air Force improve is
readiness and safety programs. The USAF and IAF restarted an instructor pilot
exchange program in 2002 in which an Indian pilot lives and trains in the US and
a US pilot does the same in Hyderabad, India. The US and Indian Coast Guards
have begun a cooperative relationship with the visit of Director General of the
Indian Coast Guard, Admiral Bansal to the US. Dialogue on Missile Defense has
progressed. Indian experts participated in a Missile Defense game in Colorado
in June 2002. Indian defense officials have made trips to the US over the past
two years to specifically talk about future involvement in missile defense
programs. A Missile Defense workshop is likely to be held in New Delhi in 2004.
India has been invited to attend multilateral BMD conferences in Kyoto and
Berlin and to observe the US Roving Sands MD exercise when it's next
conducted.
Special Forces Expand Relationships
There were a number of Special Forces exercises held to include heliborne
operations, counter-terrorism training, mountain warfare, close quarter combat,
and jungle warfare exercises. Three Balance Iroquois exercises with Indian
Army's Special Forces were held over the past 10 months. Two exercises were
in India, and one in Guam. Exercise Flash Iroquois, a Navy Special Forces
exercise will also be conducted in the near future.
Other SOF Exercises and Activities
- Pacific Area Special Operations Conference (Feb 03)
- Small Unit Tactics, Para Drops, May 02, India
- Close Quarter Combat, May 02, Ft. Lewis, WA
- Live Fire Exercises, Apr 03, India
- Counter-Terrorism, May 03, India
- Platoon Exercise, June 03, Guam
- Close Quarter Combat, Aug 03, Ft. Lewis, WA
Other Significant Exchanges
US Army -- Indian Army Aviation units exchanged helicopter pilots in India
Jan 03 and in Alaska, Aug 03. There was a PKO Multi-lateral exercise in
Bangladesh in 2002 in which the Indian army participated. The US Military
Academy conducted an exchange with IMA in May and July 2003. There was an
Army High Altitude Medical Subject matter expert exchange in June 2003 in Leh.
There was an Army Intelligence Subject matter expert exchange in Aug 2003 in
GOA.
Peacekeeping Cooperation
An Indian Army-US Army Peacekeeping CPX "Shanti Path" driven by the
latest computer war-gaming simulation was held at India's USI in February 2003.
It involved many regional countries and over 100 participants. This was the
largest Peacekeeping Operation and Command Post Exercise ever held
in South Asia and was co-hosted by the Indian Army and US Army Pacific. The
US has opened its Enhanced International Peacekeeping Capabilities (EIPC)
programs to India. India received $800,000 in EIPC funds to be utilized over
next five years on PKO training. India has allocated $ 300,000 of these funds
on training. EIPC funds can be used for training at institutional level (e.g. training
assessment, logistical planning, instructor training, simulation training),
procurement of equipment (e.g. VCRs, overhead projection equipment, hardware
and software, equipment for CPXs, English language training), and
peacekeeping seminars and conferences, and procurement of manuals,
pamphlets, and other library sources.
Expanding Areas of Military Cooperation
The future will be driven by those activities proposed during the meetings of
the Executive Steering Groups and Military Cooperation Groups, however,
already on the table are a number of new ideas. PACOM's Center of Excellence
is seeking cooperation in establishing a program with the Indian military, which
will couple efforts by University of Hawaii, Tripler Army Medical Center, and
Naval Postgraduate School for a regional HIV/AIDS prevention. India's
Integrated Defence Staff agreed to co-host PACOM's Multinational Planning
Augmentation Team-07 PKO CPX series in Aug 2004. The Indian Army will co-
host the Pacific Armies Management Seminar. The US Joint Staff will continue
to sponsor subject matter expert visits of the IDS to US joint staff. The Indian
military will be invited to joint training institutions such as Joint Forces Command,
National Defense University, Joint Readiness Training Center, and the National
Training Center to allow the IDS and the Indian military. Valuable lessons on
"jointness" can be incorporated into India's nascent joint staff system and
throughout the services. The IDS will also visit CENTCOM and SOCOM as part
of the IDS-Joint Staff cooperation during the next month. Air Force Exercise
COPE India 04 is a Dissimilar Air Combat Training Exercise. This will be the
largest US-India air exercise, and involve more complex scenarios to include US
F-15c's, and Su-30, Mirages, and Jaguars of the Indian Air Force. This is to be
followed by Cooperative Cope Thunder 04 in Alaska.
WHAT DO India and US Stand to Gain from this cooperation?
Indo-US military cooperation has the implied desired end-state of
developing a professional desire and capability to work "inter-operably."
Progress in interoperability will depend on a number of factors to include
frequency of training exchanges, exchange of doctrines, and access to
equipment. India's desire to buy US equipment through the Foreign Military
Sales system and US willingness to sell state of the art equipment are clearly
converging. The more we exercise together, the greater the rationale on both
sides for providing Indian access to weapons, communication, doctrine and other
technologies.
There is the unquestioned professional development of each other's
personnel. Cooperation develops transparency and leads to a reduction of
suspicions. It increases dialogue on security issues of concern to India and the
US. India and the US military gain valuable lessons learned in Joint Operations,
Peacekeeping Operations, Humanitarian Action/Disaster Relief, High Altitude
Operations, Search and Rescue, Jungle Warfare, Counter Insurgency, Air
Combat, and Sub-Warfare.
With the establishment of India's Integrated Defence Staff, the US joint staff
has been liberal in its sharing valuable lessons learned to assist IDS in
developing its nascent organizations: eg: NET Assessment, and Indian National
Defence University. Joint Staff talks lead to exchange of ideas and the planned
visits of IDS personnel to US institutions will progress India's development of tri-
service institutions, joint military planning, and tri-service doctrine.
Cooperation in counter terrorism:
SOCPAC's Special Forces exercise program with India's special forces
hones mutual counter-terrorism skills and exposes the Indian military to
a wide range of US equipment, tactics, techniques, and procedures. The Indian
army has tested much of this equipment during exercises and has requested to
purchase some of it. The Indian IDS has been presented opportunities to
cooperate with PACOM's Joint Inter-Agency Coordination Group for Combating
Terrorism. Opening up new avenues such as establishing counter-terrorism
fellowship program will further assist the Indian military.
2004, Foreign Area Officer Association
Herndon,
Virginia
Maintained by LTC Steve
Gotowicki.
http://www.faoa.org
