Indian Ocean. (March 31, 2024): In another sign of growing collaboration between the U.S. and India, American Marines are participating in Exercise Tiger Triumph with the Indian Navy. In this photo by Corporal Aidan Hekker, Corporal Jacob Sellers watches as a giant CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter takes off into the Indian Ocean in this U.S./India amphibious exercise focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

This is the third iteration of Tiger TRIUMPH, short for Tri-Services India-U.S. Amphibious Exercise, held in the waters near Visakhapatnam and Kakinada, India. Ironically, there was little cooperation or defense sales to India just twenty years ago. Today, by conducting joint maneuvers like these, both countries have now built intelligence sharing channels to better identify and defeat potential threats. In addition to rising arms sales, India has agreed to allow U.S. military access and Indian units are now conducting regular military exercises with the U.S. to improve joint capabilities and interoperability between forces.

As part of the exchange, India receives access to critical technologies including artificial intelligence, advanced sensor development, and the latest unmanned systems. Future collaboration will include the joint production of General Electric F-414 jet engines in India to power its Indigenous fighter aircraft.

These efforts are part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly called the Quad, which is a strategic security dialogue among Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. The goal is to counter Chinese aggression through a policy of “integrated deterrence” where India’s is better able to defend itself and deter aggression. 

Most importantly, the military cooperation between the U.S. and India is growing and keeping our adversaries guessing.