Why in News:

• India and the United States had signed a Project Agreement (PA) for Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV) under the ambit of the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).
  • Air-launched unmanned aerial vehicles (ALUAV) are drones that can be launched from an aircraft. This involves teaming up manned and unmanned aircraft for missions.

What is DTTI?

• The main aim of the DTTI is to bring sustained leadership focus to promote collaborative technology exchange and create opportunities for co-production and co-development of future technologies for Indian and U.S. military forces. 
• Under the DTTI, Joint Working Groups on land, naval, air, and aircraft carrier technologies have been established to focus on mutually agreed projects in respective domains.
• DTTI came about to expedite the scope of cooperation on defence technology that became narrow due to the presence of differing bureaucratic processes and legal requirements.
  • DTTI is an initiative to provide increased US senior level oversight and engagement to get beyond these obstacles.
• While DTTI is not a treaty or law, it is a flexible mechanism to make sure that senior leaders from both countries are engaged consistently to strengthen the opportunities in the field of defence. 
• Its central aims include strengthening India’s defence industrial base, exploring new areas of technological development and expanding U.S.-India business ties.

References:

1. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-us-india-defense-technology-and-trade-initiative-dtti-6077915/
2. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-us-signed-co-development-agreement-for-air-launched-unmanned-aerial-vehicle-defence-ministry/article36268029.ece