Tribune news service
New Delhi, October 26
The Indian Army is ready to access the United States satellite network, allowing it to target enemy positions with more precision. The key pact will be signed tomorrow to share real-time geospatial intelligence, map information and satellite imagery for defense.
Called the Basic Agreement for Exchange and Cooperation (BECA), it will allow the geospatial mapping of the land mass. The images generated from it can be used to precisely operate drones and long-range missiles. The contours of the land mass must be known precisely to achieve a precision strike from great distances.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met with his US counterpart Mark T Esper in New Delhi on Monday for talks. An Indian statement after the meeting read: “The two ministers expressed their satisfaction that the BECA agreement will be signed during the visit.” Esper is in India along with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for the 2 + 2 ministerial dialogue scheduled for Tuesday. The BECA will be signed at that meeting.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar had a “productive” dinner with Pompeo during which they discussed maritime security, the fight against terrorism, open connectivity and resilient supply chains.
The BECA, for its part, would be the last of the three ‘founding agreements’ that define bilateral ties. The first pact, the Logistics Exchange Association Memorandum, was signed in August 2016, allowing the respective armies to replenish material and fuel from each other’s bases.
The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement signed in 2018 facilitates access to advanced defense systems and enables India to optimally utilize its existing US-sourced platforms. Last December, India and the United States intensified their strategic ties by signing the Industrial Safety Annex.
In June 2016, the US recognized India as an “important defense partner.” Rajnath and Esper reviewed bilateral defense cooperation encompassing military-to-military cooperation, secure communication systems, and information exchange and industrial issues.
