During his first state visit, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden announced a series of defence and commercial deals designed to improve military and economic ties between the two countries. 

PM Modi and Biden announced a few defence collaborations, including an order for MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones made by General Atomics and an agreement allowing American Navy Ships to undertake significant repairs at Indian Shipyards.

General Electric Co plans to jointly manufacture F414 engines with a state-owned firm Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for the Tejas light-combat aircraft to improve defence and technology-sharing. 

They also debuted a series of semiconductor deals designed to work as an advantage of Indian subsidies intended to bring advanced technology manufacturing to the South Asian nations. 

Applied Materials Inc will announce a new semiconductor centre for commercialisation and innovation. Micron Technology Inc will invest over $800 million in India’s $2.75 billion semiconductor assembly and testing facility. At the same time, Chip manufacturer Lam Research is announcing a training program for up to 60,000 engineers in India.

Indian companies are planning more than $2 billion in projects in the United States, including a solar manufacturing facility in Colorado, a steel plant in Ohio, and optic fibre facilities in South Carolina. 

The agreements come as India seeks to enhance its engagement in the global arena, both diplomatically and economically, according to senior US officials who described the plans ahead of their official announcement on the condition of anonymity in a conference call with reporters. 

In addition, India intends to sign the Artemis Accords, a framework agreement agreed by a dozen governments that govern collaborative operations and civilian space exploration. NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation have also agreed to launch a cooperative mission to the International Space Station next year.