New Delhi — The Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) hosted the 24th Indo-US Joint Technical Group (JTG) Plenary Meeting in New Delhi on February 3–4, bringing together senior defense officials, scientists, and technocrats from India and the United States to review and expand bilateral cooperation in defense science and technology.
The meeting was co-chaired by Dr Chandrika Kaushik, Director General (Production Coordination & Services Interaction), DRDO, and Mr Michael Francis Dodd, Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies in the Office of the US Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering.
The plenary was held in line with the vision and policy guidance of the India–US Major Defense Partnership, which was signed in October 2025 by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Mr Pete Hegseth. Delegations from both sides reviewed the status of ongoing collaborative programs, discussed implementation challenges, and examined proposals to strengthen cooperation in critical and emerging defence technologies to address evolving security requirements.
Discussions during the meeting also emphasized the need to increase participation by university-affiliated research centers, defense laboratories, and industry partners in joint research and development initiatives. Participants explored ways to deepen innovation-driven collaboration, including potential engagement between DRDO and the US Defense Innovation Unit under the Innovation Bridge framework.
The plenary concluded with the signing of a project agreement, marking another step forward in practical cooperation between the two countries in advanced defense technologies.
The meeting saw participation from senior officials, scientists, and technocrats representing institutions and laboratories under the US Department of War and the Department of State, alongside DRDO scientists and officials from India’s Tri-Services, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of External Affairs, and the National Security Council Secretariat.
