Pentagon established first-ever country special cell IRRC to speed up defence ties with India

IRRC: India Rapid Reaction Cell
The abbreviation IRRC was in news in September 2015. IRRC stands for India Rapid Reaction Cell and was established in January 2015 by Pentagon to exclusively focus on advancing Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI).

IRRC is Pentagon’s first-ever country special cell and is headed by Keith Webster, Director of International Cooperation Office of the Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

The cell was established as part of Joint Statement issued during the visit of the US President Barack Obama to India as chief guest of the Republic Day 2015 parade. Obama is the first US president to become the chief guest of the RD parade.

The cell since its establishment has been instrumental in accelerating projects under DTII. DTII came into being in 2012 after the then US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta directed then Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter to undertake an initiative to provide increased US senior level oversight and engagement to get beyond these obstacles.  

DTII seeks to co-develop and co-produce military equipment in six pathfinder projects. These include among others
• Next-generation Raven unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
• Roll-on, roll-off intelligence-gathering and reconnaissance modules for C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.
• Mobile electric hybrid power sources
• Uniform integrated protection ensemble increment-2 (chemical, biological warfare protection gear for soldiers).

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