India-US Defence Partnership: Congressional Delegation Meets Defence Secretary Amid Military Exercise

India's Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met a bipartisan US congressional delegation led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast to discuss the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, focusing on defence industrial and technological cooperation. The meeting coincided with the conclusion of Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, which featured joint training with advanced weapon systems, drones, and a SkyStriker loitering munition precision strike. A joint firing demonstration witnessed by the US Ambassador and senior Indian military officials showcased systems including the Pinaka rocket launcher, M777 howitzer, Apache helicopters, and Swathi radars.

On Monday, Rajesh Kumar Singh, who holds the post of Defence Secretary, held talks with a cross-party congressional delegation from the United States House of Representatives, headed by Representative Brian Mast of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, with discussions centred on bilateral strategic ties. The talks focused on the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, with particular attention given to cooperation in defence technology and industrial matters, according to a statement from the defence ministry issued Monday. The talks are taking place following the conclusion of Yudh Abhyas 2026, a bilateral defence exercise between India and the United States that incorporated joint drills featuring drones, autonomous platforms, and next-generation weapons technology. The army's statement pointed to the operation as evidence of advances in domestically developed weapons, precision capabilities, and drone technology within modern combat. The drill was designed to strengthen coordinated operational capacity between the two forces, focusing on the deployment of Integrated Battle Groups across hilly and partially hilly landscapes, with particular attention to ground troop-led missions, the defence ministry stated. The agenda additionally covered boosting shared operational capability, promoting the exchange of field-tested practices, and coordinating combined planning and deployment efforts. A loitering munition designated SkyStriker carried out a targeted strike at the Mahajan Field Firing Range during the drill, according to a statement from the army. A live firing exercise involving personnel from the Indian and US armies was observed by Ambassador Sergio Gor and Lieutenant General Vikrant Suresh Deshpande, General Officer Commanding of 10 Corps, at the Mahajan Field Firing Range. Among the hardware on display were the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket system, Dhanush and M777 howitzers, AH-64E Apache helicopters, L70 anti-aircraft guns, and Swathi weapon-locating radar units.

India-US Defence Partnership: Congressional Delegation Meets Defence Secretary Amid Military Exercise

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India-US Defence Partnership: Congressional Delegation Meets Defence Secretary Amid Military Exercise

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