The United States Department recently approved the sale of P-81 Patrol aircraft to India.
About P-8I
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It is a long range patrol aircraft.
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It was manufactured by Boeing for Indian Navy.
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It is a variant of P-8A Poseidon. The Poseidon is operated by the US Navy.
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The P-8I is capable of conducting maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, reconnaissance missions and surveillance.
India-US Defence Deals
India and US have signed five major defence deals. They are as follows:
GSOMIA
GSOMIA is General Security of Military Information Agreement. It was signed in 2002. The agreement was signed to facilitate sharing military intelligence between India and the US.
LEMOA
LEMOA is Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement. It was signed in 2016. According to the agreement, the countries can use each other’s military bases mainly to carry out repairs and resupplies.
COMCASA
COMCASA is Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement. Under the agreement, the countries share information during training exercise and operations.
BECA
BECA is Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement. It was signed in 2020. According to the agreement, the countries can share geospatial information.
123 Agreement
Out of all the defence agreements signed between the countries, this agreement is considered as the most important. The agreement is also called 123 Agreement. Under the agreement, India agreed to place all its civilian nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.
India-US Militay Exercises
Yudh Abhyas: Started in 2002
Tiger Triump
It is the major military exercise carried out by India with the US. All the three forces namely Indian Air Force, Indian Army and Indian Navy participate in the exercise.
Vajra Prahar
It is an exercise held between the Special Forces of US and India.