Present talks between India and The United States of America are at an advanced level for the co-production of the third generation of Stryker Armored Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs). This is within the framework of a defense-industrialized cooperation strategy the two countries are implementing.
The US has also offered to<|reserved_special_token_278|> show where this vehicle can navigate and fire its weapons at high altitudes in India. In this proposed plan, the Indian defense ministry is looking at a 3-stage concept for this project.
The first stage is limited off-the-counter acquisitions under the USA’s FMS program. Still, the second stage or co-development of the more advanced models will be initiated after the joint manufacturing of these tanks in India.
The plan is subject to Stryker satisfying the Indian Army’s specifications and about a high level of Indianization covering cross-technology transfer to an Indian comaker. This potential deal is expected to give a fillip into defense manufacturing in India in line with the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ program.
The US is actively pushing the Stryker, with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pointing to the marked increase in the manufacture of armored vehicles with India as an ‘example’ demonstrating the ascendancy in bilateral and defense ties. The nation’s defense mechanisms and reserves will likely improve if India is involved in the collaboration.
