AMCHAM hosted a virtual defense roundtable with Mr. Tom West and Ms. Habiba Shebita, Professional Staff Members, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on September 11th to discuss defense co-production in and with India, as well as challenges to setting up co-production partnerships in India. Mr. Michael Fernandez, Chairman – Defense Committee, AMCHAM, National Executive Board Member, AMCHAM, and Country Head India & GBD South Asia, Lockheed Martin India, welcomed participants. Mr. Salil Gupte, Chairman, AMCHAM and President, Boeing India & South Asia, set the context for the roundtable with his opening remarks. The discussion underscored the growing role of American defense companies in advancing shared security interests, expanding defense trade and industrial cooperation, and supporting India’s defense manufacturing ambitions. Participants also exchanged perspectives on enhancing the ease of doing business and fostering a more enabling environment for bilateral defense collaboration. Discussions involved India’s Defence Acquisition Procedure and FMS processes, delays in the RFI process, Make in India, and opportunities that arise due to existence of operational void in the security of India. Discussions also revolved around the challenges faced by U.S. defense companies regarding transfer of technology and the consequent loss of opportunities to “second best” products since some countries have devised methods to qualify as “made in India” with little or no tech transfer. Industry emphasized that restrictions around transfer of U.S. defense tech is a structural disadvantage that needs to be overcome. It was reiterated that India’s eyes are on procurement of “sanction proof” equipment and this evolves from the concept of a strategic economy. The existing demand for underwater domain awareness and precision guided ammunition in India were highlighted.

Mr. Alay Parikh, Co-Chairman – Defense Committee, AMCHAM and Vice President – South Asia, International Business Development, Boeing India Defense, Mr. Amitabh Ghosal, Vice President India Operations, L3Harris, Mr. Prabudh Sharma, President, Raytheon India and South Asia, Wg Cdr Rajiv Anand, Senior Director, AMCHAM, and Ms. Valerie Swope, Program Coordinator, AMCHAM, joined the meeting. From the U.S. Embassy the following officials joined the session: Captain Jeremy Crestetto, Chief, U.S. Military Group, U.S. Embassy, Mr. Michael Cramer, Political Officer, U.S. Embassy, and Major Nathan Wills, Director, Defense Cooperation in Armaments & Space, U.S. Military Group, U.S. Embassy.