India, US discuss ways to strengthen cooperation on key emerging defense technologies India News

NEW DELHI: India and the United States discussed ways to strengthen cooperation on “critical and emerging defense technologies” to meet evolving needs at a major meeting here, officials said.defense research and development organization They said India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) hosted the 24th India-US Joint Technical Group Plenary Meeting in New Delhi on February 3-4. The statement said that the plenary meeting was held in accordance with the vision and policy guidance of the India-US Major Defense Partnership Framework signed by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in October 2025. The delegation also reviewed ongoing defense science and technology cooperation, discussed related challenges, and reviewed recommendations for further strengthening cooperation on critical and emerging defense technologies to meet changing needs.The statement further stated that discussions will also focus on strengthening the participation of university-affiliated research centres, defense laboratories and industry in collaborative research and development initiatives. In addition, the meeting also explored potential collaboration between DRDO and the Defense Innovation Unit under the Innovation Bridge framework and signed a project agreement.The meeting was co-chaired by Chandrika Kaushik, Director General (Production Coordination and Service Interaction), Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), and Michael Francis Dodd, Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies, Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, the Ministry of Defense said.