The INDUS-X summit fosters defense innovation and collaboration between India and the US, emphasizing strategic partnerships, technological advancements, and bilateral security cooperation.

Delhi gears up to host a meaningful two-day summit, starting Tuesday, as India and the United States converge to bolster their strategic cooperation, explicitly focusing on advancing bilateral defense innovation and collaboration. Dubbed the 'INDUS-X' summit, the event signifies a significant milestone in the partnership between the two nations' defense establishments.

Launched in June 2023 during the state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US, the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) has been at the forefront of expanding bilateral ties in defense innovation. The Ministry of Defence highlights the summit's critical role in advancing these initiatives, underscoring its importance in driving strategic technology partnerships and defense-industrial cooperation.

The summit aims to catalyze defense innovation and collaboration, allowing stakeholders to explore and capitalize on emerging opportunities. It represents a pivotal moment for setting the stage for future technological advancements and strategic partnerships, stimulating cross-national science and technology networks.

The two-day catalyst summit will feature activities to promote collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange. The agenda includes insightful sessions to chart the future trajectory of US-India defense relations.

Stakeholders from various sectors, including governments, academic and research organizations, investors, defense start-ups, technology incubators, and industry associations, will converge to develop ambitious initiatives to drive INDUS-X forward.

India's Innovations jointly organizes the Summit for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and the US Department of Defense in collaboration with the US-India Business Council and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM).

The India-US defense and strategic ties have witnessed a remarkable upswing in recent years, marked by the signing of essential defense and security pacts. These include the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016, enabling mutual use of military bases to repair and replenish supplies.

Furthermore, the signing of COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 has facilitated interoperability between the two militaries and paved the way for selling high-end technology from the US to India. In October 2020, the BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) pact further bolstered bilateral defense ties, facilitating the sharing of high-end military technology, logistics, and geospatial maps.

The INDUS-X summit underscores the deepening collaboration between India and the US in defense innovation, promising to chart a course toward enhanced strategic cooperation and technological advancement.