Article Posted on : - Feb 22, 2016

NEW DELHI (PTI): Top US and Indian Navy officials have concluded the second meeting of the Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Co-operation as India firms up the design and technology plans for an upcoming 65,000 tonne indigenous carrier.

An 11-member delegation from the US side, headed by Rear Admiral Thomas J Moore, Program Executive Officer, Aircraft Carriers (United States Navy), visited various defence and industrial installations in India, including Shore Based Test Facility at Goa, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi.

At CSL, the delegation saw the first Indian Indigenous Aircraft Carrier which is under construction.

Officials remained tightlipped about the outcome of the meeting.

The concluding session of the joint working group meeting, which began on February 15, was held on Thursday and was co-chaired by Vice Admiral G S Pabby, Controller Warship Production and Acquisition and Rear Admiral Moore.

"During this meeting, various aspects of cooperation in the field of aircraft carrier technology were discussed and a joint statement signed," a statement by the Indian Navy said.

The meeting was attended by members of the joint working group and relevant representatives from the navy, Ministry of Defence, DRDO and Ministry of External Affairs.

The working group is part of the larger India-US Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

The intent of DTTI is to reduce procedural obstacles to facilitate broader cooperation in defence production as a component of the strategic partnership.

The Defence Ministry here has identified aircraft carrier technology as one of the topics of interest to pursue under DTTI.