We welcome the announcement of the U.S.–India trade deal by President @realDonaldTrump and Prime Minister @narendramodi. While we await the final details, it is encouraging to see the two sides finalize the broad contours of a Phase I agreement.

India-U.S. Business Update 🇮🇳🇺🇸 @SkyrootA Aerospace is reportedly in advanced talks to raise $280–300 million from U.S.-based @Fidelity , @generalcatalyst , and @benchmark . The investment could mark #Benchmark’s first investment in India, according to Moneycontrol. Mythic AI, a U.S.-based AI chipmaker, launched a Bengaluru Centre of Excellence to support its Vanguard AI inference platform and expand into India’s #datacenter , automotive, robotics, and defense markets. The U.S. State Department is working on a “one-stop shop” to help U.S. companies invest in developing countries, The U.S. deputy secretary of state Chris Landau said on September 25. The initiative is part of the administration’s “Trade Over Aid” approach to expand trade and investment.

The Indian Coast Guard Ship Shaunak sailed from Chennai on September 25 for the #QUAD -at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in Perth, Australia, carrying six sea riders from 🇮🇳 🇺🇸 🇯🇵🇦🇺 The initiative was agreed by #QUAD leaders at the September 2024 Wilmington Summit to strengthen coast guard #interoperability through cross-embarkation and professional exchanges. The first mission was conducted in June-July 2025 aboard USCGC Stratton, with officers from the four QUAD partners participating in shipboard activities and training. The 2026 mission to Perth expands this coast guard cooperation into the Indian Ocean and supports the QUAD’s broader maritime-security agenda, including practical cooperation among the @IndiaCoastGuard , @AbfRblx , @JCG_koho_en , and @USCG . It also complements India’s #MAHASAGAR vision and the QUAD’s commitment to a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

India-U.S. engagement intensified on the sidelines of UNGA 81 in New York.🇮🇳🇺🇸 India's EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar met U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio on Sept. 23, reiterating India’s interests and concerns over the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. They also discussed the Gulf, Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, regional priorities, and upcoming multilateral engagements. U.S. media reports also indicate that secretary of state could visit India on Oct. 19; the date remains a reported itinerary rather than a formally announced visit. Separately, India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri held consultations with U.S. officials, including @UnderSecStateP on bilateral cooperation, energy security, SRIA, civil nuclear cooperation, TRUST, and the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture, and @jacobhelberg on critical and emerging technologies, Pax Silica, semiconductors, and critical minerals.

Lockheed Martin expands C-130J offer for India In an interview with The Times of India, #LockheedMartin VP Robert Toth said the company is prepared to transfer technology for select C-130J components if its bid with Tata Advanced Systems wins the IAF’s 60-aircraft Medium Transport Aircraft program. The proposal includes 12 flyaway aircraft and 48 built in India, along with upgrades to the IAF’s existing 12 C-130Js. @LMIndiaNews is also evaluating a second assembly line in India, while a C-130J MRO facility is being developed in Bengaluru. The partnership already has an established industrial base: Tata Lockheed Martin #Aerostructures produces C-130J empennages in India, while the broader ecosystem includes 500+ suppliers, including 140+ MSMEs, according to @LockheedMartin . The MTA competition covers 60 aircraft, with the program valued at approximately $10.5 billion, and requires significant manufacturing in India.

LATEST AI DEVELOPMENTS | U.S. & CHINA The U.S. is expanding AI across defense and transportation. Chief Digital and #ArtificialIntelligence Officer Cameron Stanley outlined a decision-centered approach for the Department of War, integrating AI-generated insights into human workflows. Project Maven processed 13,000 targets in 38 days, versus 13-14 per day under traditional workflows. The Department of Transportation is launching #SMART , an AI platform integrating data from 200 sources to predict weather and other disruptions, support proactive #air traffic management, and reduce delays. In China, the Cyberspace Administration is investigating DeepSeek and Moonshot AI over allegations that sensitive #Chinese police, military, and state-linked corporate data was transferred to U.S. AI models through #Anthropic’s Claude.

India’s Defense Industry Updates • @IGDefence successfully flight-tested the #KAL long-range one-way attack drone at Pokhran. • Nibe Group - @navalgroup (France): Signed an MoU covering underwater #drones , mine-countermeasure systems, submarine tech, naval weapon-launching systems, and maintenance. • @DRDO_India : Plans to identify an industry partner within six months for a 30 kW counter-drone #laser weapon. • BEL– @Nirnaya_system : Signed an MoU to jointly pursue opportunities in IT infrastructure, data centers, cybersecurity, ERP, healthcare IT, AI/ML, software development, and analytics. #DefenceIndustry

🇮🇳 MoD signed a approx $61.7 million contract with Accurate Industrial Controls Pvt. Ltd. for Auxiliary Power Units (APU)for the Indian Army’s T-72 and T-90 #tanks. The APUs will provide electrical power for the fire-control system, firing circuit, gun-stabilization system, and other equipment. The procurement is under the #Make -II category and involves an Indian industry-developed system. The project was cleared by the DAC in 2019. The original requirement covered 3,257 APUs - 1,657 for T-90s and 1,600 for T-72s. The contract supports the indigenization of critical subsystems for India’s existing armored platforms. #India

Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, the Indian Air Force’s #multinational air #exercise , will be held in Jodhpur from September 26 to October 12. Nine foreign air forces are participating, including the 🇺🇸 U.S., France, Germany,#Australia , Greece, UAE, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, with 30 countries as observers. The U.S. is expected to deploy F-35 fifth-generation fighters, marking their first participation in a military exercise in 🇮🇳 India. The exercise will also feature F-16s, F-18s, Rafales, A400M transports, and major IAF platforms, building on Tarang Shakti 2024 and focusing on joint tactical operations and interoperability. #TarangShakti

WEEK AHEAD | U.S. & INDIA September 21–27, 2026 Mon, Sep. 21 🇮🇳: Yudh Abhyas 2026 continues across Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. 🇺🇸.: CSIS hosts an Army innovation discussion. Tue, Sep. 22 🇺🇸.: DefenseTalks 2026 and the CDAO Defense and Security Conference begin. 🇮🇳: EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar begins high-level UNGA engagements in New York. Wed, Sep. 23 🇺🇸.: DOD’s Chief Digital and AI Officer Cameron Stanley discusses cybersecurity and AI. 🇮🇳: India–Austria defence-industry engagements continue. Thu, Sep. 24 🇺🇸: Trump–Xi meeting is scheduled at the White House. 🇮🇳: News18 DEFCON 2026 and Bharat Defence Conclave take place in New Delhi; ICWA hosts a conference on great-power politics. Fri, Sep. 25 🇮🇳: DRDO Industry Interaction Group Open House in New Delhi. Sat, Sep. 26 🇮🇳: Tarang Shakti 2026 begins in Jodhpur. 🇮🇳: CII Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing Technologies Conference takes place in Chennai. Sun, Sep. 27 India: Tarang Shakti 2026 continues. U.S.–India: UNGA high-level engagements continue in New York. #IndUS #India #Week Pic:- 🇮🇳🇺🇸 bilateral excercise #YudhAbhyas

India-U.S. Updates #IndiaUS

Video: 🇮🇳🇺🇸 The U.S. and Indian Army medical teams conduct casualty care and evacuation training during Yudh Abhyas 2026 in Rajasthan. #OperationPathways

The United States President Donald J. Trump announced plans to form an “AI Force” and appoint an AI “Czar.” He said the force would help oversee the growth of the #AI industry. President Trump said the U.S. will not “hinder or stifle” AI development. He said existing criminal and civil justice systems would be used to address harmful uses of AI. He called AI the next Industrial Revolution and said it could potentially account for up to 25% of U.S. GDP. He also said the U.S. is leading #China in AI and intends to maintain that lead. President Trump did not provide details or a timeline for the #AIForce .

SEMICON India 2026 🇮🇳🇺🇸: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated #SEMICON India 2026 on September 17 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. The September 17–19 event brought together 600+ companies, participants from 52 countries, 400+ executives, and 150+ speakers. The event highlighted #Semicon 2.0, which was approved by the Union Cabinet on July 15, 2026, with approx $13.5B outlay. The program expands support across six pillars: chip design, semiconductor equipment and materials, fabs, advanced packaging and OSAT, R&D, and talent development. The India-U.S. Country Roundtable brought together 64 Indian companies and 52 international organisations. U.S.-based @Applied4Tech announced plans to invest $5B in India over the next decade, while @LamResearch announced plans for about $1B in India. @MicronTech said its Sanand facility is producing DRAM and NAND products, with output expected to scale from tens of millions of chips in 2026 to hundreds of millions in 2027. @intel announced semiconductor education and workforce initiatives. Microchip Technology partnered with Kaynes Semicon and GridCrest Technologies, while Silvaco partnered with C-DAC’s ChipIN Centre. Tata Electronics and Nexperia also announced cooperation on MOSFET manufacturing at Tata’s Dholera fab, and packaging and testing at its Assam facility. Senior executives from U.S.-based Applied Materials, Micron Technology, AMD, Intel, Lam Research, IBM Research, Microchip Technology, Silvaco, and 3D Glass Solutions participated in the summit, alongside other global semiconductor industry leaders.

HAL Chairman and MD Ravi Kumar said Tejas Mk1A deliveries to the Indian Air Force will begin once the aircraft meets the specifications committed to the service. HAL is still working to complete #radar and #missile integration, with Kumar saying the company hopes to resolve the issues soon. He added that HAL has received 10 @GE_Aerospace F404 engines, which should enable it to begin deliveries once the remaining capabilities are completed. According to the latest MoD annual report, India set a September 2027–September 2033 delivery timeline for 97 fighters ordered from #HAL in September 2025 for $6.57 billion. HAL expects initial deliveries from the earlier 83-aircraft order in August–September 2026.