PM Modi, Biden firm up drone deal, setting up of semiconductor plant in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Quad Summit at the latter’s residence in Delaware state in the US.
The leaders discussed several topics, including the MQ-9B Predator drone deal and the setting up of a semiconductor plant in Kolkata.
“Prime Minister emphasized that India and the USA today enjoy a comprehensive global strategic partnership that covers all areas of human endeavor, driven by shared democratic values, convergence of interests and vibrant people-to-people ties,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
The talks focused on improving US-India bilateral partnerships in “areas of mutual interest”, the Minister of External Affairs said in a statement. The leaders also shared their views on regional and global issues, which included the Indo-Pacific region.
Similarly, the White House said in a statement, “President Biden and Prime Minister Modi expressed unrelenting optimism and the utmost confidence that the tireless efforts of our peoples, our civic and private sectors, and our governments to forge deeper bonds have set the U.S.-India partnership on a path toward even greater heights in the decades ahead.”
PM Modi and US President Joe Biden discussed the defence partnership between the two countries, including procurement of drones and joint military exercises.
The US President welcomed India’s procurement of 31 General Atomics MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) drones, which will enhance the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of India’s armed forces.
The US had approved the sale of 31 MQ-9B drones to the Indian military at an estimated cost of $3.99 billion in February. Out of the 31 drones, the Indian Navy will get 15 Sea Guardian drones, while the Indian Air Force and the Army will get eight Sky Guardian drones each.
The salient feature of the MQ-9B Predator is its ability to operate with pin-drop silence. It is the stealth feature of the drone that makes it unique from others. The drone can fly as close to 250 metres from the ground without the target even having an inkling it is there unless spotted.
The drone can fly higher than a commercial aircraft, around 50,000 feet above the ground, and has a top speed of 442 km/h.
Another important feature of the drone is its ability to be deployed on lengthy missions in any weather. Apart from air-to-air missiles, the drone can also be equipped with air-to-ground missiles.
The MQ-9B drone can also carry around 1,700 kg of payload, including four missiles and around 450 kg of bombs, and travel 2,000 miles without refuelling.
The drone can fly continuously or hover over targets for up to 35 hours, according to its manufacturer, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
PM Modi and the US President also discussed the joint agreement signed by Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, the two companies that co-chair the US-India CEO Forum, on the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.
“The Leaders recognized the remarkable progress under the U.S.-India Defense Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, including ongoing collaboration to advance priority co-production arrangements for jet engines, munitions, and ground mobility systems,” the White House said.
They also lauded the growing defence collaboration between both countries through the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) initiative, which was launched in 2023. They also discussed the progress achieved during the third INDUS-X Summit in Silicon Valley earlier in September.
PM Modi and US President Biden also lauded the inclusion of new technologies and capabilities during the defence exercises, including the first-ever demonstration of the Javelin and Stryker systems in India, during the ongoing bilateral YUDH ABHYAS exercise in Rajasthan.
SETTING UP OF SEMICONDUCTOR PLANT IN KOLKATA
PM Modi and the US President discussed the setting up of a new semiconductor fabrication plant in Kolkata.
Both leaders “hailed a watershed arrangement to establish a new semiconductor fabrication plant focused on advanced sensing, communication, and power electronics for national security, next generation telecommunications, and green energy applications,” the White House said in a statement.
The plant will be established with support from the India Semiconductor Mission as well as a strategic technology partnership between Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech, and the US Space Force, it said.
The GlobalFoundries Kolkata Power Center will enhance mutually beneficial linkages in research and development in chip manufacturing and enable game-changing advances for zero and low emission as well as connected vehicles, internet of things devices, AI, and data centres, the White House said.
“They noted GF’s plans to explore longer term, cross-border manufacturing and technology partnerships with India which will deliver high-quality jobs in both of our countries,” it added.
During the talks, Biden said that the US supports initiatives to reform global institutions to reflect India’s important voice, including permanent membership for India in the UN Security Council.
The US President commended PM Modi for his recent visits to Poland and Ukraine. He also lauded PM Modi for “his message of peace and ongoing humanitarian support for Ukraine, including its energy sector, and on the importance of international law, including the UN charter”, the White House said.
Both leaders also discussed the freedom of navigation and the protection of commerce, including critical maritime routes in the Middle East, where India will assume co-lead in 2025 of the Combined Task Force 150 to work with Combined Maritime Forces to secure sea lanes in the Arabian Sea.
PM Modi and President Biden lauded the US-India Roadmap to Build Safe and Secure Global Clean Energy Supply Chains, which launched a new initiative to accelerate the expansion of safe and secure clean energy supply chains through US and Indian manufacturing of clean energy technologies and components.
In the initial phase, both countries would work together to unlock $1 billion of multilateral financing to support projects across the clean energy value chain for renewable energy, energy storage, power grid and transmission technologies, high efficiency cooling systems, zero emission vehicles, and other emerging clean technologies.