India, U.S. to Jointly Manufacture Interoperable Sonobuoys for Navy

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

  • India and the U.S. announced cooperation on co-production of U.S. sonobuoys for Undersea Domain Awareness (UDA) for the Indian Navy.

About Sonobuoys 

  • The sonobuoys are small and expendable devices used in underwater acoustics and sonar systems to detect submarines and other hostile objects and to carry out precision attacks to eliminate threats.
Sonobuoys
  • Sonobuoys are deployed from aircraft or ships and activate upon water impact. 
  • They have an inflatable float with a radio transmitter, which stays at the surface to maintain communication. 
  • Underwater hydrophones are deployed to a selected depth to capture acoustic signals. These signals are then transmitted via Very High Frequency (VHF) or Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radios to operators for real-time analysis.
  • It is expected to become operational by 2027.
    • The production is split across the U.S. and India, in accordance with ‘Make in India’ principles.
    • The sonobuoys co-produced in India are interchangeable and interoperable between U.S. Navy and Indian Navy.

Significance

  • After Maritime Domain Awareness, UDA has emerged as a key focus area for India and among the Quad. 
  • India moved to procure US sonobuoys with the transfer of technology to augment underwater threat detection capabilities in view of the increasing Chinese presence in the region.
  • It’s going to be crucial to ensure that this part of the region will remain safe and secure for trade, commerce and prosperity.

Overview of India and US Bilateral Relations

  • Since India’s independence, ties with the United States have weathered the Cold War–era distrust and estrangement over India’s nuclear program. 
    • Relations have warmed in recent years and cooperation has strengthened across a range of economic and political areas.
  • Bilateral Trade: The bilateral trade between the two countries has risen by 72% between 2017-18 and 2022-23.
    • The US accounted for 18% of the gross FDI inflows into India during 2021-22, ranking second behind Singapore.
  • Defense and Security: India and the US have signed a troika of “foundational pacts” for deep military cooperation, beginning with the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016, followed by the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) after the first 2+2 dialogue in 2018, and then the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) in 2020.
    • In 2016, the United States elevated India to a major defense partner, a status no other country holds.
  • Space: Artemis Accords signed by India established a common vision for the future of space exploration for the benefit of all humankind.
    • The United States and India cooperate through the bilateral Civil Space Joint Working Group. 
  • Multilateral Cooperation: India and the United States cooperate closely in multilateral organizations and fora, including the United Nations, G20, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-related fora, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.
    • Together with Australia and Japan, the United States and India convene as the Quad, a diplomatic network, to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.
  • Nuclear Cooperation: Civil Nuclear Deal was signed in 2005, under the agreement, India agrees to separate its civil and military nuclear facilities and place all its civil resources under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.
    • In exchange, the United States agrees to work toward full civil nuclear cooperation with India. 

Source: TH

 

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