The 8th India-United States Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation (JWGACTC) was held during 13 to 16 May 2025 in Delhi and Goa, India. The meet was the part of an overarching strategic framework of India–US Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). This high-level meeting not only reaffirmed the close defense relationship between these two nations, but it also showed the commitment they both have towards advancing their maritime interoperability and in securing the Indo-Pacific region.
The four-day meeting hosted a six-member delegation from the US, led by Rear Admiral Casey Moton, Program Executive Officer (PEO), Aircraft Carriers. The delegation was engaged in site visits across various defense establishments across New Delhi and Goa. The visit also highlights the growing bilateral relations, especially in the realm of Aircraft Carrier Technology, between US and India.
The meeting came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the US. As such, both countries have continued deepening their defense ties, particularly with this 8th JWGACTC.
Strategic Dialogues On Aircraft Carrier Technology
The first session of the 8th JWGACTC was held on 13th May, and it was co-chaired by RAdm Vishal Bishnoi, Assistant Controller Carrier Projects (ACCP), Indian Navy, and RAdm Casey Moton. Both parties highlighted the critical role the Joint Working Group has played over the past decade, specially in promoting technology collaboration, exchanges, development and other best practices in carrier based operations.
The opening rewards, by Rear Admiral Moton, underscored the group’s success in facilitating technical dialogue in expanding the operational understanding between the two navies. It also delved into reinforcing mutual trust and laying down robust framework for the next-gen aircraft carrier technologies. The session also covered talks on electromagnetic aircraft launch systems (EMALS), integrated power systems (IPS), and deck design optimization.
Concluding the first session, a joint statement was issues, thus reiterating the commitment of both nations, in fostering continued defense technology cooperation. A detailed outline, covering key focus areas for future collaborations, was also shared, inline with the bilateral defense objectives.
Visiting Key Military Establishments in Goa
The second half of the meet was spent by the delegation visiting key military establishments in Goa. The US delegation participated in operational exchanges with the Indian Navy and held discussions revolving around real-time aircraft carrier operations, the integration of aviation technology, deck logistics, air-wing coordination and provided an in-depth perspective on the Navy’s operational capabilities.
During the tour of key facilities, the delegation held working sessions focusing on flight deck operations, aircraft handling systems, and maintenance protocols specific to India’s indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. Such engagements showcased India’s emphasis on self-reliance in defense, nodding to the recently initiated Aatmanirbhar Bharat while aligning with the US’s commitment to supporting India as a Major Defense Partner.
JWGACTC: A Decade of Strategic Cooperation
The Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation was launched in 2012, under the DTTI agreement between India and US. It was meant to facilitate the co-development and co-production of advanced defense technology, particularly in naval aviation. The JWGACTC has contributed heavily to India’s growing expertise in aircraft carrier design, while supporting domestic defense manufacturing and modernization of its naval fleet.
The 8th meet marks this decade long partnership of aircraft carrier technology cooperation, covering hull design, propulsion systems, flight operations safety, and air group deployment exchanges.
Significance Of The 8th Meeting of The JWGACTC
The 8th meeting of the India-US Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation focused on the objective of interoperability and falls under the umbrella of Indo-Pacific regional security and defense. The meet was aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation, maritime domain awareness, and regional stability.
Both nations realize the need for maritime cooperation to address evolving security challenges, given the ever-changing global geopolitical landscape.
