US-India plan to produce 'Made-In-India' jet engines in bid to isolate Russia, China

• US and India plan to share advanced defense and computing technology
• This includes the potential joint production of General Electric Co. jet engines
• Biden administration seeks to shift New Delhi away from Russia and counter China

The US and India plan to share advanced defense and computing technology, including the potential joint production of General Electric Co. jet engines, as the Biden administration seeks to shift New Delhi away from Russia and counter China. Details of the plan, known as the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies, released Tuesday bolster Washington's broader agenda of strengthening the military, technology, and supply-chain links with partner countries.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a briefing that the framework won't be solely driven by the geopolitical challenges posed by Moscow or Beijing. But he added that China's aggressive military moves and economic practices have had "a profound impact on the thinking in Delhi" and other capitals around the world.

"The China-Russia factors are real, but so is the idea of building a deep, democratic ecosystem of high technology," Sullivan said Tuesday, previewing the partnership with reporters. "So, geopolitics doesn't sit off to the side, but it's not a comprehensive explanation for what's at work here." One area of interest for India would be domestically producing GE jet engines, which it uses in its combat aircraft.

US officials are evaluating a proposal from GE to approve joint production of jet engines for Indian warplanes, Sullivan said Tuesday. He wouldn't speculate on how soon an announcement might come while adding that the countries are aiming for "fast and ambitious progress."