New Delhi. 18 February 2019. The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC)  launched its Executive Defense Mission to Aero India 2019, signaling American industry’s commitment to deepen defense and security partnerships between the United States and India. The Executive Mission, led by Dr. Vivek Lall, Vice President of Lockheed Martin, brings the largest American industry delegation to Aero India 2019, and is comprised of senior executives from America’s premier aerospace & defense companies that includes Raytheon, Textron, AECOM, General Atomics, Boeing, Harris, Telephonics, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems and others.

“We’re exploring unprecedented partnership opportunities,” said Dr. Vivek Lall. “Aero India 2019 is an ideal forum for Lockheed Martin and American industry to highlight new possibilities while drawing on a century of innovation and successful international partnerships in India and around the globe.”

Coproduction partnerships that support both Make-In-India and American business are front and center on the agenda. Telephonic Corporation’s President  Kevin McSweeney who is part of the USIBC delegation said, “I’m pleased to celebrate the significant milestone achieved by Telephonic’s joint venture with Mahindra having manufactured and delivered over 100, RDR 1600 airborne weather radars to global market customers.”

“From advanced helicopters to state of the art fighter aircraft, American industry is pushing new frontiers in technology transfer and co-production arrangements,” notes Benjamin Schwartz, USIBC’s Head for Defense and Aerospace.

On the sidelines of Aero India 2019, the USIBC delegation will host a panel discussion on the opportunities in U.S.-India strategic ties as well as the political context of the relationship with Indian government officials and the U.S. government delegation led by Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Allan Shaffer, Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency LTG Charles Hooper, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, Dr. Joe Felter.