WASHINGTON D.C.: The Biden administration is expected to approve a deal allowing General Electric to assemble jet engines in India to power military aircraft manufactured there.

By the time President Joe Biden hosts Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official state visit to the US on 22nd June, a deal finalizing the joint production of engines is expected to have been signed.

In January, the White House said that it had received the application to jointly produce the engines in India.

Seeing the South Asian country as a key counterweight to China's dominance in the region, Washington is working to expand its own relations with the world's largest democracy and deepen their military-to-military and technology ties.

The world's largest weapons importer, India has relied on Russia for decades for some fifty percent of its military equipment, including fighter jets, tanks, nuclear submarines and an aircraft carrier.

Attracting the anger of Washington, Indian military forces have participated in military exercises with Russia and New Delhi has purchased inexpensive Russian crude oil, a key source of funding for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

To encourage companies from the US and India to cooperate, especially on military equipment and advanced technology, a broader joint partnership between the US and India was announced earlier this year.

India is keen to gain knowledge on how to manufacture aircraft engines.