India, US Deepen Aircraft Carrier Cooperation at 8th Joint Working Group Meeting

Goa, May 20 — India and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to deeper collaboration in aircraft carrier technology following the 8th meeting of the Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation (JWGACTC), held in India from May 13 to 16.

The working group, established under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), brought together officials and experts from both countries for a series of engagements in New Delhi and Goa aimed at advancing cooperation in carrier design, development, and operations.

A six-member U.S. delegation led by Rear Admiral Casey Moton, Programme Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers, visited Indian defence establishments, holding discussions with Indian counterparts on current progress and future collaboration.

The opening session was held on May 13 in New Delhi, co-chaired by Rear Admiral Vishal Bishnoi, Assistant Controller Carrier Projects (ACCP). Both sides acknowledged a decade of cooperation under the working group and the value of continued technical exchange. A joint statement was released outlining future areas of collaboration.

In Goa, the U.S. delegation engaged with Indian Navy aviation specialists, focusing on carrier operations and related technical matters. The visit included discussions on operational doctrines, maintenance, and systems integration.

The meeting is seen as a significant step in expanding the Indo-U.S. defence partnership, particularly in naval capabilities and strategic maritime cooperation. It also reflects the growing alignment between the two countries in the Indo-Pacific region on matters of defence technology and operational interoperability.