The two countries have entered a collaboration to manufacture sonobuoys.
New Delhi: In a landmark move, the US has approved technology proposals that will enable India to manufacture highly advanced Stryker combat vehicles. This development will be a major boost to India’s defence industry and further strengthen the bilateral ties between the USA and India. Also, what makes this special is that this will make India the first global producer of Stryker combat vehicles.
Apart from this, the two countries have entered a collaboration to manufacture sonobuoys, a critical equipment for tracking submarines. According to the deal, US company Ultra Maritime and Indian Public Sector Undertaking Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) will jointly produce these sonobuoys in India.
During his visit to India, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasised the significance of these agreements. He stated that the clearance of the technology proposal would establish India as the first global producer of Stryker combat vehicles, a leading producer of advanced munitions systems, and the first foreign producer of cutting-edge maritime systems.
In India, the Ministry of Defence has recommended a three-phase plan for the Stryker project. According to the arrangement, it will start with a limited off-the-shelf purchase through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route. It will be followed by joint production in India. It is expected that this Indo-US partnership will open up possibilities for the development of futuristic armoured vehicles in India and also create the capacity for exporting these to other countries.
The Stryker is an eight-wheeled armoured fighting vehicle produced by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada (GDLS-C) for the United States Army in a plant in London, Ontario. It has four-wheel drive and can be switched to all-wheel drive.
It is available in various configurations, including Infantry Carrier Vehicles, Mobile Gun Systems, medical evacuation vehicles, and reconnaissance vehicles, providing the Indian Army with a versatile and adaptable platform for a range of operational scenarios.
It is equipped with a Caterpillar C7 engine with a range of 483 km. It can reach speed of 100 km/h. It features enhanced protection with bolt-on ceramic armour and can withstand improvised explosive devices. Its hull is made of high-hardness steel, which protects against 14.5 mm rounds on the front while the bolt-on ceramic armour protects against 14.5 mm armour-piercing ammunition and artillery fragments.
The Stryker has a two-person crew and can carry a nine-man infantry squad. It can respond quickly to war-like situations and insurgencies, moving faster than tanks on paved roads. It is armed with extensive computer support to help soldiers fight the enemy while reducing friendly fire.
These combat vehicles can be transported by Chinook helicopters, which are already used by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Indian Army plans to deploy Strykers in high-altitude areas along the border with China, particularly in regions like Eastern Ladakh and Sikkim.
Induction of these state-of-the-art vehicles will modernize the Army’s mechanized infantry units.
