US is largest delegation to Defexpo

Posted by Neelam mathews

          Feb 5, 2014

The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) today launched its 14th Defense Executive Mission to DEFEXPO 2014, showing a continuity in the defense and security partnership between the United States and India, and building on the strong momentum of recent Pentagon-led efforts to co-produce and co-develop defense capabilities with India.

USIBC’s Executive Mission is led by William Blair, President (Asia), Raytheon International Inc, and special military advisor and former Commander, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Chris Tucker, Vice President, Exelis Inc.

USIBC brings the largest industry delegation to DEFEXPO 2014, comprised of over 20 senior executives from America’s premier aerospace & defense companies seeking to enhance industrial partnerships with India and to meet India’s growing security requirements, said a statement.

Senior executives representing America’s top defense companies will be present at DEFEXPO 2014, including ATK, BAE Systems Inc, Barrett Firearms, Bell Helicopter, Boeing, Colt Defense LLC, Exelis Night Vision & Communications Solutions, FLIR, General Atomics,General Dynamics, General Electric, Honeywell, L-3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Rockwell Collins, Sikorsky, Telephonics Corporation, and Textron Systems.

U.S. industry will showcase advanced capabilities geared toward India’s air, land, naval, and internal security systems’ needs. On display will be systems such as border protection and intelligence systems, night vision sensors, armored security and light combat vehicles, tactical communications equipment, howitzer and naval gun capabilities, integrated weapons systems, thermal imaging technologies, and network munitions..

“The past decade has been a period in which our bilateral security ties have seen robust growth, not just in value, but in the level of technical capability,” said Ron Somers, President of USIBC.

Recent U.S. offerings to India, including heavy-lift and transport aircraft, Sensor Fuzed Weapons, advanced maritime surveillance aircraft, attack helicopters, and light towed howitzers all signal a high level of trust and cooperation between our two countries.

“Our objective going forward is to ensure full-spectrum engagement across our respective defense industries and to find synergy in research and development, design, and production......While seeking to advance our industrial cooperation, we also hope to advance our defense and strategic partnership,” said Rahul Madhavan, who leads the aerospace & defense sector with the U.S.-India Business Council.

Defense sales have risen from just over $200 million in 2001 to over $14 billion today.