International

US-India Finally Sign BECA, The Agreement That Will Give Indian Missiles Killer Edge

The US, through this agreement, will be able to share sensitive satellite and sensor data that would help India in striking military targets with pinpoint accuracy.

Long in the making, the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation (BECA), has finally been signed by India and the US. The agreement means India will get access to extremely accurate geo-spatial data, having major implications for a range of military aspects, such as giving Indian missiles a killer edge.

During the 2+2 India-US ministerial dialogue today, the fourth and final “foundational” understanding between the US and India was signed, which ill allow India to gain access to precision data and topographical images – on a real time basis – from the United States military satellites.

Earlier today, NSA Ajit Doval had a meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper at South Block, news agency ANI reported. They had a constructive meeting and discussed a number of issues and challenges of strategic importance.

“US, India must focus on the threat from China,” Mike Pompeo said after meeting.

Backdrop 

The United States designated India a major defence partner in 2016. In the same year, the US  Logistics Exchange Memorandum (LEMOA) with India. Since then, the urgency with which such strategic defence deals have been signed in just four years is visible. This was also indicated during Trump’s visit to India in February.

General Security of Military Information Agreement (2002), Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (2016), Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (2018) to exchange military logistics and enable secure communications have already been signed by the countries earlier.

The two countries, under BECA, can exchange maps, nautical and aeronautical charts, commercial and other unclassified imagery, geophysical, geomagnetic and gravity data.

The US, through this agreement, will be able to share sensitive satellite and sensor data that would help India in striking military targets with pinpoint accuracy.

In the wake of Chinese intrusion, after signing of the BECA, India will be able to keep a close watch on the movements of Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean. In context of neighbouring Pakistan, if there is ever another air strike similar to the one like Balakot, India can  access satellite and other data from the US to verify the success of its hits.

Opposition to BECA

The UPA government had earlier raised concerns over BECA on on protection of classified information and access to classified laboratories in India. After multiple rounds of talks between New Delhi and Washington DC, these concerns were addressed. The diplomatic ties between the two countries, which are at an all-time-high, is considered to be the main reason to have helped the two countries reach the agreement.

What signing of BECA means for India?

Though both the countries will share sensitive information under BECA, the agreement is likely to benefit India more. BECA will provide India military-grade data “that can help draw up target coordinates”.

These military-grade coordinates, in essence, can help direct missiles of air-launched bombs to a terror location in the neighbourhood with high accuracy.

Captain Vikram Mahajan (retired), director, Aerospace and Defence at USISPF told Economic Times that the agreement will primarily help in long-range navigation and missile-targeting with increased accuracy. This data, given the current geo-political situation, will be relevant on both the northern and western borders of India.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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