Pune (Maharashtra) [India], September 12 (ANI): Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Friday that there is “no spillover effect” from the ongoing trade tensions between India and the United States, highlighting that collaboration between the two countries have continued despite the imposition of 50 per cent tariffs.
“On defence, there is no spillover effect from the trade tension, that you mentioned. I think those trade tensions are also easing now and we have resumed our negotiations with them. Hopefully, it will be successful. Our defence collaboration and talks have continued even during that period,” the Defence Secretary said while addressing a press conference.
At the press conference held on the sidelines of the Southern Command Defence Tech Seminar (STRIDE 2025), the Defence Secretary highlighted the recent examples of collaboration, including the Indian Army inducting the first batch of Apache helicopters, to receiving the engine for Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mark 1-A from General Electric. The Defence Secretary further confirmed that delegation level talks are ongoing with the US.
“Engines from General Electric for the light combat aircraft are also being delivered. We have delegation level talks, 2+2 talks which were undertaken in the recent past and are intended to be ongoing right now. Engines from General Electric for the light combat aircraft are also being delivered. So, I would say defence collaboration will not have much impact. During this period also they delivered two Apaches to the Indian Army as well.”
In a significant development, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Thursday received the third GE404 engine for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-1A, according to an official statement.
HAL said that one more engine is scheduled to be delivered by the end of September 2025.
The LCA Mk1A is a more advanced, multi-role fighter jet designed to replace the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) MiG-21s.
On July 22, in a significant boost to its operational capabilities, the Indian Army received the first batch of Apache helicopters into its Aviation fleet, with the helicopters arriving at Hindon Airbase.
The Indian Army in a social media post termed the induction a “milestone moment” for the Indian Army, stating that the arrival of the state-of-the-art platforms would “bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian Army significantly.”
“Indian Army inducts #Apache Milestone moment for Indian Army as the first batch of Apache helicopters for Army Aviation arrive today in India. These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the #IndianArmy significantly,” the post said.
Notably, Sergio Gor, President Donald Trump’s close aide and nominee for US Ambassador to India, has emphasised that the two countries are “not that far apart” on reaching a deal regarding tariffs.
Gor also said that the issue between India and the US regarding the 50 per cent tariffs on Indian products should be resolved in a few weeks, even as Donald Trump is pressuring European Union leaders to ratchet up tariffs on India and China to punish the countries for Russian energy buys. (ANI)
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