Indian and US authorities are working to finalize a fighter jet manufacturing deal during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country. The deal involving US fighter get manufacturer General Electric (GE) will be a government-to-government deal as GE is already supplying its F-404(IN) engines for India’s home-grown light combat aircraft LCA Tejas manufactured by the state-owned aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

According to the people familiar with the matter, both countries are also expected to firm up plans to purchase 30 MQ-9B armed drones from General Atomics, when Secretary Austin meets Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. They are also likely to discuss an early conclusion of the ‘Air Information Sharing’ agreement, top-level official sources said.

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US Defence Secretary Austin Lloyd is visiting India ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US.

The plan to develop complex jet engine technology in India by Ohio-based GE Aerospace, a subsidiary of GE, has been under discussion for over a year now. The deal is likely to be announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US in June this year.

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PM Modi will embark on an official state visit to the US from June 21 to 24, where he will be hosted by President Joe Biden at the White House.

(With inputs from agencies)