Defence / Joint Military Exercises — UPSC Mains Model Answer

Signed in 2016, LEMOA allows the armed forces of both countries to access each other's military logistics facilities — including ports, airfields, and supply depots — for refuelling, replenishment, and repair. It does not grant permanent basing rights but enables operational flexibility during exercises and humanitarian missions, enhancing India's power-projection capability across the Indo-Pacific.

Concluded in 2018, COMCASA enables India to procure and operate US-origin encrypted communication systems on defence platforms. This allows real-time, secure data-link communication between Indian and American forces, significantly improving joint operational coordination. It replaced the earlier, more limited Communication and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement.

Signed in 2020, BECA provides India access to high-precision geospatial and aeronautical data from US systems. This enhances the accuracy of navigation systems, cruise missiles, and drones. For India, BECA is particularly significant for precision-strike capability along contested borders and maritime domains.

GSOMIA is a general framework for protecting classified military information exchanged between two states; India does have such an agreement with the US. However, it does not deal with nuclear weapons data. Conflating it with nuclear-sharing arrangements misrepresents its scope, which is limited to safeguarding shared defence intelligence.